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India has
announced that it would hold the Summit of the India-Africa Forum in New
Delhi in April. This statement was delivered by Shri Anand Sharma, Hon’ble
Minister of State for External Affairs at the Executive Council of Foreign
Ministers of the African Union at their Summit in Addis Ababa on 29th
January, 2008.
India looks for a true partnership with Africa and support its development
and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Shri Anand Sharma said.
The speech was extremely well received by the Foreign Ministers of nearly 50
African countries along with representatives of Regional Economic
Communities and the Commissioners of the African Union. Several Foreign
Ministers including those of Liberia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Niger and Djibouti
were seen congratulating the Minister on the positive intent in his
statement. Eminent members of the African Union Audit panel were also
present.
The Chairperson of the Executive Council, the Foreign Minister of Ghana,
warmly thanked Shri Anand Sharma for his statement on behalf of India and
said that the age old friendship between India and Africa was looking for
modern enhancement.
Shri Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs is leading
a delegation to the African Union Summit and has personally delivered
letters of invitation from the Prime Minister to the Heads of State of
African countries invited to the Summit and letters of invitation to the
Foreign Ministers of the same countries. The countries invited to the Summit
are: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.
In a hectic
day of meetings, Shri Anand Sharma called on the Prime Minister of Ethiopia,
H.E. Mr. Meles Zenawi, and the President of Ghana, H.E. Mr. John A Kufuor,
who is also the current Chair of the African Union. Both dignitaries have
accepted Prime Minister’s invitation to the Summit and have said that the
timing of the Summit is appropriate as Africa diversifies its relationship
and cooperation with India is now in the forefront of Africa’s agenda. The
Prime Minister of Ethiopia said that they were confident that the Summit
with India would be unique in its own way just as India is a special partner
for Africa.
Shri Anand Sharma also called on the Chairperson of the African Union
Commission, H.E. Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare. Prof. Konare paid warm tribute to
the path of development followed by India and said that India as a true
friend of Africa was well liked and respected and he was confident that the
Summit in New Delhi would be a great success to which he would make a full
contribution.
Shri Anand Sharma also had detailed meetings pertaining to the India-Africa
Forum Summit and bilateral issues with the Foreign Ministers of Ethiopia,
H.E. Mr. Seyoum Mesfin; Libya, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Abderrahman Shalgham; South
Africa, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma; Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Ojo
Maduekwe; Ghana, H.E. Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei; Senegal H.E. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane
Gadio; Uganda, H.E. Mr. Sam Kutesa; and Zambia, H.E. Mr. Kabinga J. Pande.
Addis Ababa
January 29, 2008
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