Revealed at the press conference held in Seoul on Africa Day
By Richard Yang
PM Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe (6th from left) flanked by V. Minister Sin Gak-su of MOFAT (left) and Amb. Abbas of Sudan (right) with other ambassadors and diplomats
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Africa Day, 12 ambassadors and heads of mission residing in Seoul held a press conference and a dinner party at the Samsung Raemian Gallery of Unni-dong in Seoul. The day coincidentally, the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe who was at the time of his official visit to Korea attended to celebrate the Africa Day.
At the press conference, Ambassador Abbas of Sudan who is concurrently a dean among the ambassadors from African nations said that the African Union has in mind to move forward towards total integration of the continent.
First on the economic sector, there are currently 8 regional economic communities which aim – through gradual regional economic integration processes – to reach the final goal of uniting the African Continent into one large African Economic Community within the next 25 years, and at the same time, under the leadership of the heads of state – represented in the Assembly of the Union and other political sub-structures – towards political integration to be provided via several structures in the Union. Then he noted that Korea has set an example of how a nation suffering from the scourge of war was able in less than half a century to turn itself into the 11th economic power on the planet. This is one thing that Africans would really like to learn from. Then he encouraged Korea to discuss African issues as a host country during the forthcoming G20 Summit in November in Seoul and play a role in a bridge between the developed world and the developing nations.
Ambassador Mustapha Khammari of Tunisia in Seoul is proud of the fact that the name of “Africa” was originated from the ancient Tunisians who had lived about 2 thousand years ago. According to his comment, in the old Roman Empire, the people who were the ancestors of Tunisian had called the north of African Continent an “Africa terra” (Land of Afri [plural of Afer]) and then he suggested that the journalists covering the event reflect the bright image of Africa and its great potentiality.
From Right: V. President Im Hong-Geun of Korea National Oil Corporation, Amb. Akawor of Nigeria in Seoul, and General Manager Chang Sung-jin of Korea National Oil Corporation
Amb. Khammari of Tunisia flanked by President Chu Hwa-joong (left) of Korea Travel Fair and Vice President Lee Myung-hoon
