Fischer praises African effort

2003-10-31 14:38

Pretoria - German vice-chancellor and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Tuesday said it appeared that a shift in Africa's consciousness had brought about a greater commitment to finding its own methods of dealing with and solving its problems.

Fischer was speaking to members of the German media based in South Africa on the second day of an official visit that began with a brief courtesy call on President Thabo Mbeki in the capital Pretoria.

Each visit to Africa left a greater impression that the continent was doing more to manage and solve its own problems, he said.

Highlighting the need for conflict management capabilities in Africa, Fischer noted that Namibia had sent its own peacekeeping troops to assist in war-torn Liberia.

Fischer arrived in South Africa from Namibia late on Wednesday ahead of the fourth session of the South Africa-Germany Bi-national Commission, from which he emerged saying talks were positive and fruitful.

He flew to Cape Town on Friday to participate in a discussion at the University of Cape Town titled: Can the UN meet the challenges of the 21st Century? - The need for German-South African co-operation.

Fischer was also scheduled to hold talks with South Africa's speaker of parliament Frene Ginwala later on Friday and visit German development initiatives in the city on Saturday before concluding his three-nation Africa trip. - Sapa-DPA

- SAPA