Brussels, 27/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - In Syrte (Libya) on Friday, where he attended the opening of the extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU) as a special guest of President Alpha Oumar Konaré, President Prodi sent more than forty African heads of state a message of support for the consolidation and expansion of the AU, hailing its rapid progress to date and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). He also expressed confidence in Libya's prominent role in Africa, now that Libya is 'back on the world stage.' 'My more general message to all of you today is that the European Union will use its new relationship with Libya to work together in Africa and in the Mediterranean for the common good. We both have strong relations with the region, we share common goals regarding the region's security and prosperity, and we have the financial and technical means to work jointly towards these goals. I am convinced that a partnership between Libya and the European Union will lead to a closer dialogue between the European Union and the African Union,' said Romano Prodi..
The role played by the EU and the UN for the stability and development of Africa compliment each other, added Prodi, noting: 'We are keen to see the African Union succeed -- respecting fully the sovereignty of your institutions and the African ownership guiding your policy options. Our relationship is first and foremost a political one. In today's fragmented, fragile international community, wide strong unions -- like yours in Africa and ours in Europe -- are the building blocks for international stability and peace.'
'I am pleased to see that the two recent initiatives we have developed -- for water and peace -- are in line with the current priorities of the African Union as reflected in this Summit's agenda,' said Prodi, mentioning recent EU initiatives to establish a Water Initiative and aid for peace-keeping operations in Africa, to which African members of the ACP group are contributing EUR 250 million. The African Union must be at the heart of the peace initiative, insisted Prodi. On the Water Initiative launched at the Jo'burg Summit on Sustainable Development, Romano Prodi highlighted the importance of achieving tangible results, urging Africa to make water and water processing national priorities, an essential precondition for convincing donors to provide greater financial resources, he explained. On agriculture, Prodi said he shared the view of the AU that farming is a motor force for the economic and social development of the continent of Africa. He assured the heads of state that the EU was prepared to contribute towards this but reforming the Common Agricultural Policy. 'We have proposed removing all subsidies that damage African countries' exports. On cotton, we are firmly committed to removing all subsidies,' said Prodi, calling on Africa and the European Union to work hand in hand at the World Trade Organisation.