Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Porlamar (Agenzia Fides) – The new “South-South” agreement for finding an alternative to the economic system, dominated by the Western countries. This is the ambitious program of the second summit held for countries from Africa and South America (ASA), which ended yesterday, September 27 on the Venezuelan island of Margarita.
At the close of the Summit, a “Declaration of Nueva Esparta” (named after the Venezuelan state to which the island belongs) was signed by the 66 African and South American countries that participated.
The document establishes several instruments to reinforce the process of integration between African and South American states, such as ministerial meetings, and highlights the importance of the “Plan of Action” adopted by the Summit to concretize collaboration between the two geopolitical areas.
Among the other points of the final declaration are the reform of the UN Security Council (“to guarantee a greater participation among developing countries in South America and Africa”), collaboration between African and South American countries in fighting against organized crime (especially South American drug traffickers who have established support points in Western Africa), and the creation of the Secretariat of the ASA, whose headquarters will be located on Margarita Island.
The Summit participants requested the creation of a new economic system based on regional institutions and a developmental logistic, to confront the present difficulties created by the financial crisis. A cornerstone in the project has been laid in the creation of the South Bank, formed by 7 South American countries. The bank should become an institution for African-Latin American credit.
Venezuela took advantage of the occasion to sign a series of oil agreements with various African nations: South Africa, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan and Cape Verde. The next ASA Summit will be held in 2011 in Lybia. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2009)
