'Africa Rising' Is a Tangible Reality, Dean of African Ambassadors Says

Novinite Insider » DIPLOMATIC CHANNEL | May 26, 2015, Tuesday // 12:58
Bulgaria: 'Africa Rising' Is a Tangible Reality, Dean of African Ambassadors Says The group of African Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls which marked Africa Day on May 25 in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo by M3 Communications

Mutual effort in Africa-Bulgaria ties could bring about cross-investment, more substantial economic exchange and closer human relations, the Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors to Bulgaria has said.

During the May 25 Africa Day celebrations held in Sense Hotel, in the downtown area of Bulgaria's capital Sofia, H.E. Mrs Latifa Akharbach, who is also the Ambassador of Morocco to Bulgaria, outlined the cooperation potential Bulgaria has with the continent, but also raised awareness of a more dignified place for Africa in the global system.

The Africa Day celebrations brought together the Ambassadors of six countries accredited to Bulgaria (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and South Africa), alongside the Honorary Consuls of the Ghana, Kenya, Mali, the Seychelles and Uganda.

Monday evening's event featured African dishes from all the countries which took part, and also music and traditional which took the floor after the official part ended. An exhibition of handicraft items from around the continent was on display all the time.

"Celebrating Africa, means first and foremost acknowledging and shedding light on the outstanding momentum and exceptional dynamic of change in the continent over the last few years," the Dean told an audience of ambassadors, politicians, journalists, and members of the African community here.

 

Mrs Akharbach stressed the importance of being aware that "beyond the daunting challenges still looming ahead, the Continent is already an inestimable contributor to the development of economic exchanges and the creation of wealth in the world."

The event was themed "Africa Rising" - which in her words is not just a slogan, but "a tangible reality that some major economic powers have already grasped and turned into an asset for their own benefit and achievement."

The Dean added the international community needs Africa to tackle present-day challenges such as terrorism, illegal migration, human trafficking, energy security and environmental governance.

"New African generations call for more fairness and equality in international relations," and the distorted image of the continent spread by global media outlets has to be dealt with, she said, warning that some vicious approaches to the continent and its inhabitants have not yet been fully abandoned:

"The African Peoples request that the paternalistic, ethnocentric and neo-colonialist approaches, that are still often adopted when it comes to dealing with Africa and Africans, be forsaken."

She called on Bulgaria to avail itself of the positive way it is perceived in Africa - as a country that previously supported development by transferring knowledge and expertise through engineers, mathematics and physics teachers who worked in Africa in the past.

Another key point was the 4th EU-Africa summit held in April of last year. In Brussels, its roadmap outlined 2014-2017 cooperation in areas such as peace, security, good governance, human rights and human development.

Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Poryazov also attended the event, which was held under the patronage of Bulgaria's top diplomat Daniel Mitov.

Poryazov also voiced his conviction that for Bulgaria and Africa there was a long road of cooperation ahead, with much work to be done on both sides.

 

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Tags: Dean of the Group of African Ambassadors to Bulgaria, Africa, Bulgaria, Valentin Poryazov, Africa Day, Latifa Akharbach, Daniel Mitov

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