African summit convenes today in Libya

Foreign ministers of the Organization of African Unity member states on Monday night started in Tripoli their preliminary works in preparation for the special summit to be held today and tomorrow in the Libyan city of Syrte.

Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi, who opened the meeting of the foreign ministers, said in a speech, "The question is to decide on what sort of unity is sought by Africa. Is it a unity similar to that of the United States of America, the European Union or the former Soviet Union?"

The Libyan leader said the Abouja agreement, which was signed in 1991, in itself constitutes a revision of the OAU charter, which dates back to the 1963 establishment of the organization. Gaddafi added that this agreement is not only economic, it is also political, social and military and has resulted in a new charter for the organization.

Gaddafi added that several African leaders were enthusiastic toward the idea of setting up the United African States, which he advocates, adding that other African leaders back this initiative and demand guarantees for maintaining unity.

Following Gaddafi's speech, the African foreign ministers started their session in closed-door deliberations. A well-informed source said, "The African foreign ministers will adopt in the conclusion of their works the Syrte declaration," which will be submitted to the summit for approval.

The same source added: "The African leaders will assure in this document their desire by the end of the second millennium to revive the ambitions towards maintaining a greater unity that can eliminate linguistic, ethnic, religious and national differences."

Meanwhile, Egypt's FOreign Minister Amr Moussa said that the summit is considered a chance to discuss the establishment of African economic cooperation in light of world economic blocs.