BORDEAUX, France - South Africa and the European Union Friday hold their first ever summit in Bordeaux Friday with Pretoria set to try and narrow differences with its top trading partner on the political crisis in Zimbabwe. Africa's economic powerhouse and the EU, its biggest investor, want to take their relationship to a "new level" at the summit, attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU -- South Africa's Thabo Mbeki and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso. "The Republic of South Africa is the main regional power in Africa and a member of the group of emerging countries. It is one of the drivers of growth in the continent and a success story that refutes Afro-pessimism," the EU said in a statement. South African foreign ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa...
[read full story]
Your Web Site
