Africa rejects EU demand

LIBYA: African nations are refusing to sign a joint statement with the European Union on climate change on the grounds that the proposal does not reflect the continent's priorities, diplomats said on Monday.

A joint declaration on climate change was to have been signed at the conclusion of a two-day Africa-EU summit opening in the Libyan capital on Monday.

But African diplomats said the idea was rejected by African Foreign Ministers at a meeting on the eve of the summit.

"The declaration was rejected as it reflected European rather than African priorities," one African source said.

Asked for comment, an EU diplomat said "it's not over," and added that further efforts would be made during the summit to find common ground.

Another said "Africa has its own position," while an additional source said that African leaders needed more time to look at the EU platform.

The EU had hoped to deliver a joint statement at the gathering of 80 nations from the two continents to deliver "a strong symbol" as the Cancun conference on climate change opens in Mexico. Tripoli, Tuesday, AFP