Mubarak expects Africa- Europe Summit to usher in real partnership

Leaders of 67 African and European countries last night ended a landmark two-day summit in Cairo, pledging more economic cooperation and agreeing to convene again after three years in Europe.

The Africa-EU Summit in Cairo voiced concern over Africa's 350-billion-dollar debt burden, compared with 110 billion dollars in 1980.

Host of the unprecedented summit, President Mubarak, described the event as "a positive step forward". "There has never been such a high level African-European meeting. The Europeans listened to all the problems which hinder development efforts in the African countries," Mubarak told the Egyptian TV.

"All these issues were not clear in the past. They used to get information from reports but now they listened to the problems from the officials themselves," he said.

"I believe the conference is extremely successful and there will be good response from the countries participating in the conference towards all issues discussed," he said.

Speaking at the conference's final session where a final communique, and a plan of action were announced, the Egyptian leader said that the discussions during the summit ushered in a new era with a sincere desire from the two continents to deepen cooperation based on understanding and integration".

The President also voiced hope the summit would be the start of "a real partnership" in which African and European countries would close rank to deal with many problems, atop of which the African debts.

Africa, he continued, looks to the partnership with the EU as "a real chance to enhance our relations and serve the interests of our nations".

The final communiqué underlined the leaders' commitment to the of peaceful means to solve their disputes and rejection to the use or threat of use of military force.

The communique, also denounced "all forms of terrorism" and rejected offering any concession to terrorists. Earlier in the day, Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa told a press conference that the summit had not focused on certain African issues.

"The African issues were not discussed in he gathering because we have not met for this purpose. The summit aimed at discussing African-European cooperation," he said.

The communique also welcomed the EU initiative, launched in 1996, to ease the burdens of debts on poor nations. In this regard, the summit welcomes the decision of the European Development Fund to allocate one billion Euro to help indebted African countries."

It pointed out that the African and European countries would pursue efforts to force a committee to study the problem of African debts and find out suitable solutions.