EPP-ED Group:

9-12.07.97: THIRD WINDHOEK DIALOGUE BETWEEN AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN POLITICIANS OPENS ON 9 JULY IN LUXEMBOURG

Next week (9-12 July), EPP Group Chairman and former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens MEP opens the third European People's Party Windhoek Dialogue in Luxembourg. This key meeting between leading European and African politicians from 14 countries follows an initiative of the EPP first launched in March 1996.

On the agenda is the establishment of a Union of African Political Parties based on the Windhoek Dialogue principles. Martens stated: "Our aim is to create a favourable environment for political parties in African countries in order to overcome constraints on the democratization process."

With the current Lomé Convention ending in 2000, Wilfried Martens, Parliament's rapporteur on the EU's Green Paper on future relations with ACP countries, will outline proposals for reform on Friday (11/7). EU Development Commissioner Pinheiro will also take part in open discussions about the future of Lomé and Europe's relations with the developing world.

In addition, a keynote speech will be delivered by Lord Plumb, Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, on the future evolution of Africa. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Vice-President of the EPP Party and President of Portugal's opposition party PSD will chair the conference on Friday (11/7).

Last week the World Bank's World Development Report noted the need for good governance in developing countries. Martens commented: "EU politicians cannot afford to pretend that a crisis in Africa is of no concern to Europe. We must work with the USA and Japan to encourage open economies, infrastructure investments and communication networks. Africa must become a full member of the global village we all share."

Commenting on shared Christian-Democrat values, Martens stated: "Our African friends start from the same universal values. We all believe in solidarity and justice, freedom and human rights. We are building a social and ecological market economy based upon a democratic system of law. These are the principle cornerstones of the Windhoek declaration."

For the first time all meetings will be open to journalists and take place in:

European Parliament (Luxembourg)
Conference Centre, Kirchberg - Room B

African nations attending the two-day meeting are: Angola, Benin, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome & Principe, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda. ENDS

Editor's Note: Please find below the Brussels Windhoek Dialogue statement issued on 10 January 1997.
For more details, please ring Marianne Amssoms on +32-2-284 2233, or Tim Beyer Helm, press officer, on +32-2-284 3024/3248 or GSM +44-(0)385 730131

WINDHOEK DIALOGUE MEETING STATEMENT
BRUSSELS 9-10 JANUARY 1997

The Joint Executive Committee of the Windhoek Dialogue met in Brussels on 9-10 January 1997 under the chairmanship of President Wilfried Martens and having reviewed and examined the conclusions of the Windhoek Dialogue II meeting that was held in Brussels on 14-15 September 1996, concluded as follows:

Reaffirmed its commitments to the principles and values as expressed in the Declaration of the Windhoek Dialogue II meeting.
Established a clear distinction between the Windhoek Dialogue, which is to be carried on jointly on a partnership basis, and the process leading to the formation of the Union of African People's Parties (UAPP), which is to be carried out by the African Member Parties among themselves.

To that end, the African Member Parties decided to meet in their respective regions, before the next meeting of the Windhoek Dialogue, to agree the programmes and strategies through which:

a) To establish a Union of African political parties which subscribe to the Windhoek Dialogue;

b) To promote the creation of a favourable environment to political parties in
African countries to overcome constraints on the democratization process;

c) To promote capacity-building and inter-party cooperation in Africa;

d) To recommend possible functional and legal linkages first between and among the African political parties and second between them and the EPP;

e) To establish a permanent election-monitoring mechanism for African elections;

f) To establish a code of conduct for African Member Parties both in opposition and in Government;
Decided to create a Centre for Political Training in Africa.
Decisions concerning the headquarters, regional centres and the secretariat will be taken during the Windhoek Dialogue III meeting.
Agreed to propose to the next meeting of the Windhoek Dialogue a full and comprehensive review of the Lomé Convention mechanisms, in particular the procedures for approving projects to be financed by the EDF.
Agreed that the Windhoek Dialogue III Meeting will be held on 10-11 July 1997 in Luxembourg, after the preparatory regional seminars/workshops, preceded by a meeting of African Member Parties on 9 July 1997

Brussels, 10 January 1997