Greece has 'vital interests' in Africa, PM says at EU-Africa summit

by N. Lionakis , (ANA) 30 Nov 2010

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, in Libya to attend the 3rd EU-Africa Summit, on Monday stressed that Greece, as a Mediterranean country and neighbour to north Africa, had vital interests in the region. "Cooperation between us has a real and significant future," Papandreou told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting. As potential areas for developing cooperation he cited action on climate change, illegal migration and energy issues. "Africa is increasingly becoming a developing area, [one that is] dynamic and with many prospects for the Greek and European economy," he said. Greece wanted to revive ties with Greek communities throughout Africa, which could act as a bridge and a link for even greater cooperation with African cities," he added. The Greek prime minister had a series of meetings on the sidelines of the meeting, holding talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi concerning cooperation in the Mediterranean, relations between Greece and Libya and the prospects after the signature of a strategic cooperation memorandum between the two countries signed in June. Papandreou also met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was in Tripoli to receive the Gaddafi award for human rights. Further brief meetings by the Greek premier on the sidelines of the summit were with Portugal's premier Jose Socrates and Ireland's foreign ministry secretary general David Cooney that focused on the latest developments within the EU and Sunday's decisions by the Eurogroup. In talks with S. Africa President Jacob Zuma, Papandreou discussed issues concerning South Africa's expatriate Greeks. Prime Minister's address Prime Minister called on Monday for a "sustainable development" adding that growth should be "green", while addressing the 3rd EU-Africa Summit which opened in Tripoli, Libya, on Monday with the participation of approximately 80 European and African heads of state and government, the European Council and European Commission presidents and the eurogroup president. "Whatever we do must be done with justice. And this is not understood by our peoples today when banks are being saved but the peoples are those who pay the price, when profits are being privatised while damages are being socialised, when the rich are becoming richer and the poor poorer," Papandreou said. "Our common message must be sustainable growth" adding that growth should be "green". What is needed, he said, is a better life for all, social justice and struggle against poverty and inequalities. "We must safeguard, for future generations, our natural resources, we must humanise globalisation," the Greek premier noted. "It would be a hypocricy if we spoke af a democratic governance on a national level," Papandreou also said, adding that this is being shown by the current economic crisis in which "decisions surpass today our countries and there are others who decide." "Henceforth, democracy must become global," he added.