Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 7, 2007

Human Rights, Conflict Overshadow Broader Issues at Africa-Europe
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Summit
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A80642:A6F02AD83191E160DFDD4C179DD890882E7CA1C1B166B639& Summit to issue
plan of action bolstering cooperation in areas of peace, security,
governance, human rights, trade, economic integration, development
More than 70 leaders from Europe and Africa are gathering in Portugal
for the summit of Africa and the European Union. The summit is to
draft a strategy to guide cooperation on a broad range of areas. But,
as we hear from correspondent Scott Bobb in Lisbon, the gathering is
being overshadowed by war and political issues.







Couple looks at map of Africa and Europe at site of EU-Africa Summit,
Lisbon, 7 Dec 2007African and European leaders Saturday begin work on
a strategic partnership aimed at forging a more balanced relationship
over the coming years. But human rights issues and conflicts on the
African continent continue to draw attention away from the main
purpose of the gathering.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has arrived Thursday quietly in the
Portuguese capital. He received an invitation despite being banned
from Europe five years ago because of rigged elections in his country.
His attendance prompted a boycott by the prime minister of Britain,
the former colonial power in Zimbabwe.







European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, 28 Nov 2007The
president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso,
acknowledged Zimbabwe is a concern, asking how leaders who fought to
free Africa from colonialism could now prohibit freedom among their
own people.

Nevertheless, he says this is a summit of Europe and Africa, not just
a European summit with Zimbabwe. And noting there are other countries
with human rights concerns in Africa and in Europe he says the EU
should address this question consistently with all its partners.

The summit is to issue a plan of action bolstering cooperation in the
areas of peace and security, governance and human rights, trade and
economic integration and in development.

The EU reportedly is preparing to announce an aid package for Africa
totaling 1.2 billion euros - nearly $2 billion - for next year. This
is set to rise to 2 billion euros - or $3 billion - by 2010.

The summit is drawing its share of protests, against atrocities and
human rights violations in Sudan's Darfur region, Eritrea, Somalia and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On the eve of the summit Friday, 40 European and African members of
parliament issued a statement urging the leaders, in their words, not
to turn their backs on the human suffering in Darfur. Several dozen
human rights groups issued a similar statement.

And anti-globalization activists Friday marched near the summit site
to protest agricultural policies that threaten small farms.


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