This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7134575.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU increases pressure on Zimbabwe | EU increases pressure on Zimbabwe |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out against oppression in Zimbabwe, at a meeting of European and African leaders being held in Portugal. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out against oppression in Zimbabwe, at a meeting of European and African leaders being held in Portugal. |
| She condemned the policies of President Robert Mugabe as "damaging the image of new Africa", sources inside the closed session in Lisbon said. | She condemned the policies of President Robert Mugabe as "damaging the image of new Africa", sources inside the closed session in Lisbon said. |
| With Mr Mugabe in the audience, she said she stood with Zimbabwe's people. | With Mr Mugabe in the audience, she said she stood with Zimbabwe's people. |
| Earlier, Portuguese PM Jose Socrates described the gathering - the first for seven years - as a "summit of equals". | Earlier, Portuguese PM Jose Socrates described the gathering - the first for seven years - as a "summit of equals". |
| We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on German Chancellor Angela Merkel Mugabe 'new era' dismissedEU-Africa: Key issues | We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on German Chancellor Angela Merkel Mugabe 'new era' dismissedEU-Africa: Key issues |
| However, Mr Socrates, who is hosting the meeting of nearly 70 EU and African leaders, said there would be no shying away from thorny issues such as human rights. | However, Mr Socrates, who is hosting the meeting of nearly 70 EU and African leaders, said there would be no shying away from thorny issues such as human rights. |
| Other key topics include trade, immigration, the environment, and peace and security. | Other key topics include trade, immigration, the environment, and peace and security. |
| "This summit is a summit of equals," he said. "We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility," he said in an opening speech. | "This summit is a summit of equals," he said. "We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility," he said in an opening speech. |
| He acknowledged that Zimbabwe was a sticking point, but said dialogue would bring results. | He acknowledged that Zimbabwe was a sticking point, but said dialogue would bring results. |
| Previous efforts to hold EU-African summits have collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance. | Previous efforts to hold EU-African summits have collapsed over the question of Mr Mugabe's attendance. |
| Although banned from the EU, African leaders demanded that Mr Mugabe be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest. | Although banned from the EU, African leaders demanded that Mr Mugabe be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest. |
| No shying away | No shying away |
| Mrs Merkel has been tasked with expressing the EU's concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe is accused of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy. | Mrs Merkel has been tasked with expressing the EU's concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe, where Mr Mugabe is accused of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy. |
| There is a growing belief that Europe-Africa relations are changing"The situation in Zimbabwe concerns us all, in Europe as in Africa," she said. "We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on." | There is a growing belief that Europe-Africa relations are changing"The situation in Zimbabwe concerns us all, in Europe as in Africa," she said. "We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on." |
| The EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also criticised the way President Mugabe was treating the people of Zimbabwe. | The EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also criticised the way President Mugabe was treating the people of Zimbabwe. |
| "Frankly we hope that those who have fought for the independence and freedom of their countries now can also accept the freedom for their own citizens," he said. | "Frankly we hope that those who have fought for the independence and freedom of their countries now can also accept the freedom for their own citizens," he said. |
| Mr Mugabe, who is still regarded by many African leaders as the heroic liberator of Zimbabwe, has not yet responded publicly to the remarks. | |
| Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who is also president of the African Union, said it was time to shake off the colonial past. | Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who is also president of the African Union, said it was time to shake off the colonial past. |
| "For almost 500 years, the relationship between our two continents had not been a happy one. It is to correct this historic injustice and inhumanity that this new relationship between Africa and the European Union is now necessary," he said. | "For almost 500 years, the relationship between our two continents had not been a happy one. It is to correct this historic injustice and inhumanity that this new relationship between Africa and the European Union is now necessary," he said. |
| Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met his Rwandan counterpart to "start to normalise" ties, which were severed last year in a row over a French inquiry into events that led to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. | Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy met his Rwandan counterpart to "start to normalise" ties, which were severed last year in a row over a French inquiry into events that led to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. |
| "We want to turn the page, we want to look to the future," said Mr Sarkozy following talks with President Paul Kagame. | "We want to turn the page, we want to look to the future," said Mr Sarkozy following talks with President Paul Kagame. |
| Attitudes changing | Attitudes changing |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says there is an emerging realisation in Europe that its relationship with Africa is changing. | The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says there is an emerging realisation in Europe that its relationship with Africa is changing. |
| Poverty and issues around development aid are still dominant, but at the same time many countries in Africa are now democracies with growing economies and growing self-confidence, our correspondent says. | Poverty and issues around development aid are still dominant, but at the same time many countries in Africa are now democracies with growing economies and growing self-confidence, our correspondent says. |
| Africa wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade deal | Africa wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade deal |
| African trade with China is forcing Europe to take Africa more seriously and not just as a collection of former colonial possessions, he adds. | African trade with China is forcing Europe to take Africa more seriously and not just as a collection of former colonial possessions, he adds. |
| The EU is hoping to draw up a number of new Economic Partnership Agreements with former African colonies and regional blocs. The World Trade Organization wants the current preferential trade deals to expire at the end of the year. | The EU is hoping to draw up a number of new Economic Partnership Agreements with former African colonies and regional blocs. The World Trade Organization wants the current preferential trade deals to expire at the end of the year. |
| African representatives are concerned that the new agreements are unbalanced and that their countries will not be able to compete with subsidised European goods. | African representatives are concerned that the new agreements are unbalanced and that their countries will not be able to compete with subsidised European goods. |
| Some states, though, in East Africa, have already signed up to the new deals. | Some states, though, in East Africa, have already signed up to the new deals. |
| European countries are mindful of protecting their position in Africa amid rising competition from China, correspondents say. | European countries are mindful of protecting their position in Africa amid rising competition from China, correspondents say. |