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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Summit Features Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The misery syndrome
By Salama Ahmed Salama
Is it possible that Europe will apologise to Africa for crimes committed and riches plundered during the imperialist age?
This question was reiterated frequently during the Africa-Europe summit conference held in Cairo. When it was put to a Portuguese political science professor by the host of a famous political show on Egyptian TV, it was with reference to the Pope apologising to Jews for acts committed by the Catholic Church, and the Japanese authorities apologising to other Asian peoples for atrocities committed during World War II. The professor responded indirectly, contending that Africa needs Europe, not vice versa, and that the EU is eager to resolve the continent's political and economic problems and incorporate Africa into the world economy.
This is the essence of the discord that dominated the Africa-Europe conference exchanges. The deterioration of conditions in Africa, the prevalence of poverty and war and the spread of corruption, in addition to the widening rift between Africa's peoples and those of the developed world: these factors are seen as having stripped Africa of any political, strategic or economic weight, reducing its role to that of a provider of raw materials, on terms set by the industrial states of Europe. Raw materials are the only items that bring in income, keeping the ruling classes alive.
This is why it does not cross anyone's mind in Europe to apologise to Africa for the ages of plundering and colonisation. What is desired, rather, is the creation of bureaucratic and political obstacles to prevent African immigrants from entering Europe, as well as the signing of treaties to ensure that such immigrants return to their countries of origin. This, in reality, is the only European fear -- that mass African immigration might create imbalance in European societies. Still, this will not prevent EU member states from offering some support and alleviating the burden of debts on a country-by-country basis, as German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer explained. The object of such assistance is to contain poverty and famine, and encourage countries that can help themselves to develop and become potential markets for European products.
Evidently Africa's turn has not yet come. Europe is currently more interested in the increasingly buoyant markets of Latin America and the promising markets of Asia. Europe will not risk investing too much in African markets without political, economic and social guarantees, however much the media exaggerates the promises made in the conference's final declaration. The EU will therefore not take the risk of putting new binding mechanisms in motion, whether with regard to debts, increasing investment in Africa, or entering a genuine partnership. Cooperation will remain restricted to North Africa and the Maghreb, as well as the Lomé agreement which covers African states south of the desert.
The conference, nevertheless, is the first collective attempt of its kind to bring together African countries and the European countries that colonised them for centuries, in a framework that promotes better understanding and cooperation. This involves urging Europe to accept its responsibilities and search for a common language in a world where borders will not prevent catastrophes from moving from continent to continent.
Europe will never be able to protect itself against the dangers of African misery if it fails to extend a helping hand to the Africans themselves.
