(8 Dec 2007)
1. Wide of German Chancellor Angela Merkel approaching media
2. SOUNDBITE (German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:
"I think that this EU-Africa summit is a milestone on the road for a better relationship between the two continents. It took seven years to organise this summit again, I made clear the reason for this long period; which is that the situation in Zimbabwe has not yet improved. But we know about the strategic importance. And I believe that this EU-Africa strategy is really giving a new quality improvement. It is important that in three years we will meet again to sum up the results. Achievements of the action plan can be controlled step by step. This must be this way if we want to achieve the millennium goals, which are fight against poverty, better education and better health."
3. Mid of Merkel speaking
4. SOUNDBITE (German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:
"I have, especially at the request of the Portuguese presidency, spoken about human rights and good governance and I made it clear once again that we are especially concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe. I believe we had a very frank discussion here and there have been some critical things said by the African side too."
5. Cutaway of media
6. SOUNDBITE (German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:
"Well, I think the reactions were such that some also know about the problems in Zimbabwe. I have spoken with President Mbeki, often I have spoken with the president of South Africa about the situation in Zimbabwe, and I have explicitly stated that I appreciate a country such as South Africa or the African Union are striving to make progress in Zimbabwe, but I have also stated that time is short: People there are really badly off. And maybe this is a small contribution to quicker changes."
7. Wide of Merkel leaving
STORYLINE
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday stressed the need to deal with the Zimbabwean regime, telling reporters at a landmark summit of African and European leaders that "time is short".
"I appreciate a country such as South Africa or the African Union are striving to make progress in Zimbabwe, but I have also stated that time is short: People there are really badly off," she said.
Almost all the leaders from the 53-member African Union and the 27-nation European Union, some of them former colonial powers in Africa, met in Lisbon, Portugal, for a two-day summit that was their first in seven years.
After their first summit in 2000, a planned second meeting three years later was called off when some African nations balked at the EU's refusal to invite Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
His government is subject to EU sanctions, including a travel ban, over its human rights record.
Mugabe, granted a temporary visa, attended the Lisbon summit but made no comment to the media.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown stayed away in protest at Mugabe's presence.
Britain and other EU countries have accused Mugabe of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy.
Merkel said the entire EU was "united" in condemning Mugabe's record in power and said a blind eye could not be turned when human rights were being "trampled".
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is trying to mediate between Mugabe's party and its main opposition and who threatened to skip the Lisbon talks if Mugabe was not invited, indicated that European meddling was unwelcome.
Mbeki said African leaders were taking steps on their own accord to ensure rights were respected.
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