President Hosni Mubarak, in his speech on Saturday 8/12/2007 at the inaugural session of the second EU-Africa Summit, said the Cairo summit, in 2000, was an expression of a joint desire to give an impetus to African-European relations.

The current Lisbon Summit is seeking to create a new strategic partnership that serves the interests of the two peoples of the two continents, said Mubarak.

He expressed hope that the proposed strategy would be based on mutual respect and equality.

The current summit's agenda includes a host of important topics related to peace and security along with human rights and shifting to democratic practices together with inter-trade, development and climate change, said Mubarak.

Africa, Mubarak expounded, is forging ahead in promoting its democratic process and human rights values.

Democratic and human rights issues could not be dealt with away from other related issues namely poverty and development, added Mubarak.

Africa is still gripped with armed conflicts and poor growth rates, said Mubarak, noting that other problems include service of foreign debts and international trade conditions along with unemployment and endemic diseases.

8/12/2007