Development and Cooperation


	Contributions from the Column Monitor Information technology – little leapfrogging potential World Summit on the Information Society Electronic waste – digital divide becomes digital dump US food aid remains unreformed NGO report on German development aid German President launches “Partnership with Africa” New German government agrees on development policy Kortmann becomes Parliamentary Secretary ACP countries criticise EU Partnership Agreements Africa looses out in apparel competition Reforming EU’s sugar regulations 12/2005		German President Köhler launches “Partnership with Africa” German President Horst Köhler started his “Partnership with Africa” initiative with a two-day conference at the Petersberg Hotel in Bonn in November. Köhler said he was “very pleased” with the course of discussions between high-ranking representatives from Europe and Africa. He mentioned a prevailing awareness that Africa and Europe depend on one another as issues such as migration, environmental protection or the spread of diseases affect both continents. Köhler’s guests included South African President Thabo Mbeki, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Representatives from German and African business associations, political organisations and the media were also involved. From some of the events, however, the media were excluded to allow politicians to interact more frankly. The German president told the press there was still no “true partnership” between Europe and Africa. Therefore, his initiative aims to improve learning from one another. Europeans should go to Africa with questions rather than a “suitcase full of answers”, Köhler said. President Obasanjo said that over four decades after independence, Africans had to accept responsibility for their own development. Back in 1977, Nigeria had been more developed than Indonesia. Today, the economy of the Asian country is far stronger than that of Nigeria. The discourse will be continued next year with a focus on youth issues. Obasanjo wants the talks to be held in Nigeria. (ruff)