Africa will not be bullied – AU chairman

Konare said the “strength” of European delegations at the summit would provide a “clear indication” of whether the EU was willing to enter an “equitable and equal” partnership with the continent.

he suggested that anything less than full participation would point to the perpetuation of a colonial “slave trade economy” of the past.

 Konare said President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe should be invited as a mattter of principle and not as a should not be seen as a sign of support for the Zimbabwean leader or his government’s actions.

The AU chairman said Africa would assess the commitment of the EU to the continent by their delegations at the summit. Observers said that since British Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed he would not be attending the talks due to Maugabe’s presence, there was a chance other EU countries would send “weakened” delegations.

 Konare reiterated the importance of negoitating a fair trade deal between the African continent and the EU, rather than focusing on the Zimbabwean crisis.

Konare confirmed, however, that there was an “urgent need to help our brothers in Zimbabwe to solve their problems,” directing this comment to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

“Some of our European partners should look at the progress made by Mbeki’s mediation. The ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have established dialogue, which should be encouraged,” Konare said.

Konare said he was concerned the talks could break down should Mugabe be ostracised from the Lisbon summit.

The AU chairman added further that individual member states in Africa ll had their own opinion on Zimbabwe’s “distastrous internal policies”, but he said, “the principle agreed upon is that it (Zimbabwe) should attend the EU summit.”

Konare said that seven years had been “wasted” since the last EU-Africa summit in Cairo because of the Zimbabwe issue, but that in the meantime strategic agreements had been signed between China and Africa.

“We are negotiating similar agreements with Japan and India, and Russia is also looking at Africa as an opportunity.

“So our European partners should look seriously at the December summit as an excellent opportunity to put things in motion (regarding an EU-Africa partnership). 

Mugabe, who sparked international outrage earlier this year when his police arrested and beat dozens of political opponents, became persona non grata in Europe after a dubious 2002 election win.