SOUTH AFRICA: The European Union's fourth annual summit with South Africa.

Record ID: 454639

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: The European Union's fourth annual summit with South Africa.
  • Date: 16th September 2011
  • Summary: KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SKUKUZA, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) OUTSIDE SUMMIT VENUE SECURITY SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ARRIVING PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION JOSE MANUEL BAROSSO ARRIVING PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL HERMAN VAN ROMPUY ARRIVING TALKS IN PROGRESS NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, JACOB ZUMA, SAYING: "On the global and regional issues we discussed developments in Africa, including North and South Sudan, Zimbabwe and the Arab Spring. On the whole we are all very happy with the content and depth of discussions. Indeed, today's meeting has helped to further consolidate our continued dialogue and engagement with the European Union." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, HERMAN VAN ROMPUY, SAYING "The Council (NTC) in our view is a legitimate representative of the Libyan people for the time being but as I said we have to push them, and we even wrote a letter to the African Union that they (Libya) should go for a more inclusive government in the upcoming stage." ZUMA, BAROSSO AND VAN ROMPUY SHAKING HANDS
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7YJCX9BAB3YCK625JZGV55S8
  • Story Text: A one-day summit between South africa and the European Union was held in Kruger national park in northeast of South Africa on Thursday (September 15).
    South African President Jacob Zuma led his country's delegation, while the EU were represented by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso.
    "On the global and regional issues we discussed developments in Africa, including North and South Sudan, Zimbabwe and the Arab Spring. On the whole we are all very happy with the content and depth of discussions. Indeed, today's meeting has helped to further consolidate our continued dialogue and engagement with the European Union," Jacob Zuma told journalists after talks with EU leaders.
    Speaking about EU position with regards to Libya's NTC legitimacy European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said Europe would back the Libya's interim National Transitional Council (NTC) as official representative, adding the EU would be ready to recognise NTC as Libya's representative in the U.N.
    "The Council (NTC) in our view is a legitimate representative of the Libyan people for the time being but as I said we have to push them, and we even wrote a letter to the African Union that they (Libya) should go for a more inclusive government in the upcoming stage," Van Rompuy told reporters after meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma in the sprawling Kruger National Park.
    Zuma has failed to recognise the NTC, putting South Africa at odds with the West and fast-growing economic rival Nigeria.
    South Africa's support of Muammar Gaddafi has its roots in a long-standing close relationship between the countries.
    Zuma, who has criticised the NATO bombing campaign against Gaddafi, has called for "inclusive dialogue" among the different Libyan groups.
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron were given a rapturous welcome in the Libyan eastern city of Benghazi on Thursday, where jubilant crowds thanked them for the NATO campaign that helped end Gaddafi's 42-year rule.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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