EU-Africa: Investing in peace offers prospects for stronger economic relations

Investing in peace in Africa offers prospects for the strengthening of the economic relations between the African and European regions, declared Wednesday in Brussels, Interim Prime Minister Youcef Yousfi, during the 4th European Union-Africa Summit (EU-Africa). Representing President Bouteflika in the Summit, Yousfi who was speaking about the theme "Investing in peace," said that the partnership between the two regions, in terms of peace and security is increasingly "developing" since the first such meeting in Cairo (Egypt). "This partnership is based on a common vision that peace, security and development in Africa are such necessary conditions for a more stable, safer and more united world." In this regard, he recalled the "significant support" by the EU to the peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic as well as the "big assistance" to the operation of the African Stand-by Force.  "It is important that the European Union which has repeatedly stressed that the African initiatives constitute the suitable framework for establishing long-lasting peace and security in the continent, reinforces support to these initiatives," he said. After having recalled the launch by the African Union of an African capacity of immediate response to the crisis, he underlined that this new initiative is "clear sign of Africa’s willingness to increase the management on its own of the conflicts and the crises."A