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EU-African leaders to seal pact EU-African leaders to seal pact
(about 6 hours later)
European and African leaders will mark the end of a two-day summit in Lisbon by signing a pact promoting free trade and democracy.European and African leaders will mark the end of a two-day summit in Lisbon by signing a pact promoting free trade and democracy.
The EU-Africa Strategic Partnership document will outline joint policy aims in areas such as security, development and good governance.The EU-Africa Strategic Partnership document will outline joint policy aims in areas such as security, development and good governance.
The summit has been dominated by controversy surrounding the presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.The summit has been dominated by controversy surrounding the presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Mugabe's policies had "damaged Africa".German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Mugabe's policies had "damaged Africa".
Ambitious agendaAmbitious agenda
The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership pact is a hugely ambitious agenda and implementing the proposals will be difficult.The BBC's Mark Doyle in Lisbon says the EU-Africa Strategic Partnership pact is a hugely ambitious agenda and implementing the proposals will be difficult.
He says that although the plan talks about promoting peace and security, two EU peacekeeping deployments in Sudan and Chad are already well overdue.He says that although the plan talks about promoting peace and security, two EU peacekeeping deployments in Sudan and Chad are already well overdue.
And our correspondent adds that Europe and Africa are currently in open disagreement over an EU plan for import tax reductions, despite the pact's focus on free trade.And our correspondent adds that Europe and Africa are currently in open disagreement over an EU plan for import tax reductions, despite the pact's focus on free trade.
The first day of the summit was overshadowed by the contentious presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.The first day of the summit was overshadowed by the contentious presence of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.
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 Mr Mugabe is banned from the EU, African leaders demanded he be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest.Although Mr Mugabe is banned from the EU, African leaders demanded he be invited to attend. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has boycotted the meeting in protest.
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 issuesWe 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
Chancellor Merkel had 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.Chancellor Merkel had 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.
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.
"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 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."
'Summit of equals''Summit of equals'
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".
Africa wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade deal
"We are equal in our human dignity... but also equal in terms of political responsibility," he said in an opening speech."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.
Mr Mugabe's attendance has overshadowed the summit
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.Mr Mugabe, who is still regarded by many African leaders as the heroic liberator of Zimbabwe, has not yet responded publicly to the remarks.
Trade dealsTrade deals
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.
Africa wary of trade offerQ&A: Trade deal
The EU is attempting 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 attempting 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.