Foreign ministers and representatives of 80 African and European countries Wednesday 5/12/2007 issued the "Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration" ahead of the second summit conference between the two blocs in Lisbon on Dec. 8-9.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit told a press conference that the ministerial conference endorsed the "Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration" and agreed on the documents that will be released by the EU-Africa summit that will convene in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon on Dec. 8-9.

These documents are "Afro-European partnership strategy" and related work programme, as well as the Lisbon Declaration that will be issued at the end of the summit, the minister said.

Abul-Gheit described the Sharm el-Sheikh one-day ministerial conference in preparation for the summit as "very successful" and said it would "contribute in vast measures to guaranteeing the complete success of the summit in Lisbon".

"The meeting demonstrated a strong desire of the two sides to give momentum to cooperation relations and to strategic work and to achieve the mutual aspirations especially in light of Africa's interest in the backing of the EU, given its economic strength, "Abul-Gheit added.

Abul-Gheit said security and peace will figure high at the summit in Lisbon.
The weather and environment issues will also be on the agenda of the meetings, he said.
Immigration from the South to the North will also be discussed, said Abul-Gheit.
On African debts, Abul-Gheit said it was proposed by Egypt.

Calls to write off African debts or at least deduct part of them should continue, he said.

The Africans should seek to achieve tangible development to convince the North they are serious, he noted.

6/12/2007