Accra, July 10, GNA - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Monday pledged to use his country's influence to get Africa high on the agenda of the European Union (EU). Within the EU, Italy would ensure that there is a new partnership with Africa, he said.

He criticized the international community for being "too slow" in contributing to the advancement of peace and economic prosperity of the continent, adding that for globalisation to become meaningful, just and sustainable, the region should be both part of globalisation and a beneficiary.

President Napolitano, who ends a three-day visit on Tuesday, was responding to a toast at a state dinner held in his honour at the Banquet Hall in Accra.

He said development went hand in hand with political stability and the huge impact of trouble spots in the continent should therefore spur the international community on to strengthen its co-operation with the African Union (AU) and its established institutions.

President Napolitano paid tribute to Ghana for its leadership role to bring peace to Africa and said the establishment of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) attested to this. He said, he saw his country's engagement with Ghana at the United Nations Security Council as an opportunity for the two to co-ordinate their efforts to promote global peace and respect for human rights. The Italian President lauded the country for its democracy, good governance and strong performance of the economy and said this was attracting many Italian businesses into Ghana. President John Agyekum Kufuor expressed appreciation to Italy for its assistance to the country in the development of small and medium scale enterprises, capacity building and human resource, education as well as the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases.

Ghana, he said, wanted to reach out to its development partners for co-operation and partnerships on a mutually beneficial win-win basis.

President Kufuor stated that on-going search for a continental Government was without prejudice to bi-lateral engagements between the member states and with countries outside the continent. He said in its efforts to move the country into middle income economy, the Government was committed to private sector development, public/private partnership, good governance, transparency, respect for human rights and rule of law.

President Kufuor noted the passion both Ghana and Italy had for football and used the occasion to extend an invitation to Italian football fans to come and watch the January 2008 African Cup of Nations (CAN) tournament, which would be hosted in Ghana.