In his capacity as the current chairman of the EU-Africa Summit which was held for the first time in Sharm el-Sheikh in April 2000, President Mubarak will give a major speech at the inauguration of the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal today 8/12/2007.

The summit will be attended by representatives of 54 African and 27 European states.

Ambassador Soliman Awwad, the Presidential Spokesman said President Mubarak will stress the importance of supporting efforts by the African continent in confronting the challenges of development and stability.

The President will also underline that statements and deeds should be combined in supporting African efforts in reform and development, Awwad said.

The Presidential Spokesman said President Mubarak's participations in African events reflect his personal conviction of Egypt's African character and the significance of Africa to Egypt.

He added that President Mubarak considers Africa as a southern security axis to the Egyptian national economy.

The President will underline the principles on which a new African-Europe strategic partnership ought to be based.

President will also review African priorities and stress the necessity of taking them into consideration among principles to be issued by the summit.

President Mubarak will call for seriously implementing the new strategic partnership and stress the necessity of turning words into deeds to support Africa's reform and development efforts, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Suliman Awwad said in statements to pressmen accompanying the Egyptian delegation to the summit on 7/12/2007.

European and African leaders are also expected to stress the importance of continuing to develop partnership between the two sides on the basis of constructive dialogue and understanding.

They are also to express appreciation of Egypt's role in boosting relations between Africa and Europe and its hosting the ministerial meeting held in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to prepare for the summit.

The Presidential Spokesman said Egypt will put forward a number of initiatives with the framework of the African-European partnership adding these initiatives are expected to be approved by the participating leaders atop of which are the file of cultural heritage which was illegally moved to Europe, the special initiative regarding the rights of African immigrations, eliminating mines and war residuals in Africa within the Egyptian efforts to boost the African-European cooperation.

8/12/2007