28
Oct
New Delhi — The absence of Western Sahara at the III India – Africa Summit is motivating concern among some participants in the event taking place in New Delhi, changing the apparent size of economic cooperation, also giving space to political content.
Interviewed today by the Angolan press, in the Indian capital, the Foreign minister, Georges Chikoti said that such policy is “relatively large” and is a topic on which Africa will need to review it positions, as the issue of the Sahara has already divided the continent for some time.
The Cabinet minister explained that the Sahara (only missing African member in New Delhi) is a member of the African Union (AU) and the issue was widely discussed. India came to the conclusion that it has no program of cooperation with the Sahara, so it was not invited.
In the view of Georges Chikoti, there is, in fact, by the African Union, a mistake in terms of appreciation because the issue was discussed at its level and that all its members, including the Sahara, should be attending the Summit.
About the presence of Morocco, that is not a member of the AU, the Angolan minister said that there is a prior agreement between India and Morocco and there is no such agreement between India and the Sahara.
“So from now on, it becomes a problem because, deep down, the AU had to come on a basis that does not represent them as a whole,” said Georges Chokoti, to whom it is important to see this situation.
“We have countries that are members of the African Union that do not recognize the Sahara. But as the Sahara was recognized and supported by the African Union it continues to participate as a member of the African Union. And that’s what it should have happened, “he concluded.
Before providing these statements Georges Chikoti spoke at the opening of the ministerial meeting, as part of the Third India-Africa Summit, to be held Thursday.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201510280155.html