Brussels, 18/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - The talks held by European Commission President Romano Prodi and Development Commissioner Poul Nielson with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, last week in Brussels, ended with a conditional EU approval for gradual rekindling of cooperation with this country with a view to progress made in the democratisation process. The good governance programme presented by the Guinean President was well received. Nonetheless, the support that the Commission said it was willing to give in the form of technical assistance to the promotion of the civil society, defence of human rights, good administration of public affairs and to the fight against poverty will depend on the effective implementation of the commitments made.
Frozen at the end of 1994 for violation of human rights and democratic principles (mainly during the 1993 legislative elections, municipal elections of 1995 and presidential elections in 1996, described as parodies by international observers), EU cooperation with Equatorial Guinea had been partially resumed at the end of 1997 following consultation begun with the authorities of Guinea (under Article 366 b of the Fourth Revised Lomé Convention), and a mission for assessing the situation was despatched on site by the Union in November 1997. President Obiang's current visit to the Commission - the second since October 1997 - was very much criticised by the Social Democrats at the European Parliament who considered it inappropriate given the lack of progress made since then. According to the European Commission, the meeting came under the framework of political dialogue that has been established with Equatorial Guinea since 1996 in the aim of obtaining improvement to the situation of good governance, development of the rule of law and promotion of human rights in the country.
"We are studying aid that could be provided to Guinea on condition that President Obiang respects the democratisation process for which he has given us his assurance", said Romano Prodi after the meeting. President Obiang, for his part, denied before the press his government's determination to eliminate political opposition and to exert political pressure against it in Guinea.
EUROPE recalls that Equatorial Guinea is currently going through a major period of economic growth because of the discovery of oil, but still ranks 131rd among countries, according to the United Nations human development index.