From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Sep 02 2009 - 08:48:11 EDT
Year: 2009
Israeli Foreign Minister on extended Africa tour
Tel Aviv, 2 September - Hardly two days ago African Union chairman Muammar
Qadhafi called on African countries to close all Israeli embassies across
the continent, as Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is reported to
embark on a nine-day tour to five African countries. The tour is scheduled
to take him to Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda and is meant as a
first step to improve Tel Aviv's image in the international forums, in which
African Union member states have a significant presence.
A senior Foreign Ministry official explained Israel's sudden interest for
Africa with the need to make up for three decades of practical neglect of
the neighbouring continent by Israeli foreign politics, discounting the
rather vivid interest that the Israeli Defence Ministry has always taken in
various African countries, such as Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and its
presence in the US naval base in Djibuti. As expected, the Defence
Ministry's matters are never absent from the Foreign Ministry's agenda:
prior to his departure Lieberman said one of the issues he will raise in his
talks with African leaders will be Teheran's efforts to gain influence in
Africa.
The first leg of his tour will bring him to Addis Abeba, for talks with
Ethiopian government officials about a project to develop industrial
farming, together with a US company. Some twenty Israeli businessmen from
various branches, such as energy, agriculture and water infrastructure,
shipping, the chemical industry and the military industrial sector are
accompanying Lieberman's delegation, which comprises also senior officials
from the Finance Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the Israeli National
Security Council. In Addis Abeba Israel's Agricultural Minister, the US
ambassador to Ethiopia and representatives from USAID will participate in
the launching ceremony for the Israeli-US-Ethiopian project.
>From Addis Abeba the Israeli Foreign Minister heading to Nairobi for talks
about a Kenyan-Israeli water project. Lieberman will also hold a meeting
with the Jewish community of Nairobi. On Monday he will arrive in Ghana for
a meeting with the President after which he will travel on to Nigeria for
talks about a trade agreement with the Vice President. In Nigeria the
Israeli Foreign Minister will also sign on a memorandum of understanding and
cooperation agreement with the Economic Community of West African States.
Finally, Lieberman will come to Uganda for a meeting with the President. In
Entebbe he will then participate in a memorial ceremony for the victims of
the Entebbe rescue operation.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----