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Reception in Berlin for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, December 3rd, 2007.

The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu supports new international network www.friends-of-modern-africa.org as global instrument of communication

„Just a very few persons personify the transition of Africa in modern, open and equal societies in such an excellent manner. Now and today one of these persons is part of us.“

Dr. Uschi Eid, MP, chairman of the association Modern Africa e.V., welcomed the owner of the Nobel Peace Prize Desmond Tutu from South Africa at a reception in Berlin on Monday, Deceber 3rd, 2007, with the words above.

40 guests came to the reception of the initiative friends of modern africa in Berlin in order to honor Desmond Tutu who left his mark on the modern Africa in a unique way. The association Modern Africa e.V. was founded in 2007.

Guests have been artists, musicians and film-makers such as Mo Asumang, Nelson Müller, Noah Snow, Britt Kanja and the world known South African awrd-winning cartoonist Jonathan Zapiro. Representatives of the German business community such as head of communication Philip Baum from Boehringer-Ingelheim or head of communication Michael Wedell of the Dresdner Bank, journalists as Klaus Liedtke editor-in-chief of the National Geographic Germany and politicians as the Members of Parliament Hans-Ulrich Klose and Markus Löning.

All of them were fascinated by the special charisma of the 76years old winnerof the Nobel Peace Prize. Many of them announced to support the initiative friends of modern africa in the future in order to attract attention on the potential of Africa and in order to create an international network for the exchange and new forms of cooperation.

The first project of friends of modern africa is the internet platform www.friends-of-modern-africa.de. The internet platform is supported by Desmond Tutu and President Horst Köhler since it’s beginning. After only some month more than 130 supporters can be found on the internet platform. More than 50 projects are presented.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu: „Yes! A different, a modern Africa exists! The majority of the African people are in favour of a free, democratic and modern Africa. A more and more increasing network tries to realize democracy, justice and freedom. The African people could not participate in fundamental rights for a long period of time. Still today the international picture of Africa is determined only by negative stories. Many Non-Africans are not interested in the successful stories concerning peace, reconciliation, justice, affection, sympathy, respect and love. The initiative ‘friends of modern africa’ would like to change the image of Africa.”

Dr. Uschi Eid tried to win support for the future project of the initiative. This project is the so-called „Modern Africa Convention 2010“, which is a festival of the modern Africa. This event under the motto „Connecting people and ideas – featuring the new Africa“, shall put people, their ideas and projects together. The 100 most fascinating, creative and innovative thinkers and creators of the modern Africa shall be focused on during a few days.

More information for journalists:

Steffen Heizmann
heizmann2@gmx.de

Photographs from the event are available from:

photothek.net
Thomas Köhler
Fax +49 (0)30 2809 744-0
http://www.photothek.net
mail@photothek.net

Launch of foma at Worldbank Forum “Africa on the Rise”

Within the framework of the Worldbank’s international conference „Africa on the Rise” (as part of Germany’s G8 activities) - which will take place in Berlin on May 21st and 22nd - we will present the internet-platform to a highranking audience of more then 350 participants of the conference – amongst them CEOs from international operating companies like Jochen Zeitz (Puma), journalists like Charlayne Hunter-Gault (“New News out of Africa”) or Theo Sommer (chief editor Die Zeit), many politicians and representatives of international organisations and of the World Bank Group.

Numerous guests as the Presidents of Botswana and Benin or business leaders like Mohamed Ibrahim (CELTEL) and Cheik Modibo Diarra (Microsoft Africa) will directly arrive from Africa. The official launch is planned for the evening-event of the conference. Short video statements of Desmond Tutu and the President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kuffour, will call for becoming a “friend of modern africa”.