EU-Africa summit on track

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad said at a press briefing Thursday that despite British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's indication that he would not attend the two day summit if Mugabe was there, the summit would still take place.

"We are confident that this summit will go ahead," he said.

Pahad emphasised that it was important to have a meeting at Heads of States level and that nobody will be able to choose who forms part of the AU delegation.

"We don't think that a boycott at this critical juncture is helpful," said Pahad. He added that Zimbabwe was at present showing signs of progress in terms of press laws and freedom of movement and that it didn't make sense to boycott the summit in light of this.

Pahad said that Zimbabwe could be brought forward as a topic for discussion at the summit.

No other head of state, apart from Brown, has indicated that they are unwilling to attend the summit and Pahad said that many leaders of African countries were eager to be involved in the meeting which they had waited a long time for.

Key issues to be discussed at the summit include climate change and migration, both legal and illegal. Pahad said that the issue of social alienation of many migrants in Europe would be broached, as well as China's growing involvement in Africa.

During the briefing Pahad also said that President Thabo Mbeki's impending role as chair of the South Africa-Namibia Investors Conference to be held in Windhoek next week will be key in promoting investment opportunities in Africa.

Thus far, 613 people from across the world have registered to participate in the conference.

President Mbeki is also scheduled to address a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament during his trip to Windhoek.

Pahad himself will be leading a delegation to Accra, Ghana next week as part of the committee of ten discussions following the 9th African Union Heads of State Summit that was held there in July.

The South African government strongly condemned the attacked on AU peacekeeping troops in Sudan and Pahad said he hoped this attack did not set a precedent in the region.

Ten peacekeepers were killed in the attack, another seven peacekeepers were seriously wounded while 50 others were missing, the AU said shortly after the attack.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews