ACP meet of focus on future of group

Caption:   Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, May 29, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato says the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) meet in Port Moresby will focus on the future of the group in its key partnership with the European Union under the Cotonou Agreement which is set to expire in 2020.

The Cotonou agreement has been in place since 2000, and is aimed with the assistance of the European Union to reduce and eventual eradication of poverty while contributing to sustainable development and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy.

With delegations from member states arriving in the country arriving over the weekend, Mr Pato said that visitors from Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers, were confirmed to attend the important event.

“I would like to take the opportunity to inform our people in the country that we will have one of the most important event that is taking place and all the arrangements that we have made are well and truly in place,” the minister said.

“The ACP states represent some 79 countries which are former colonies of Europe and are countries situated in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific states and they will be convening here with their leaders for the 8th meeting which will be chaired by our Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.”

“At that meeting very key important issues will be discussed- that is the future of the ACP group, which is an important question because by 2020 the agreement between the European Union and the ACP member state which is called the Cotonou Agreement, which is reviewed from time to time, will expire.”

The minister made mention of his earlier meet with his colleague ministers in in Senegal planning for the Port Moresby meet to take place tomorrow.

“What future financial implications exist because the EU has provided billions of Euros in development assistance to address issues of infrastructure, health, social, and welfare related concerns particularly to drive the development aspirations of former colonies of Europe which comprise the ACP and of course in Papua New Guinea, the European Union is the second largest development partner which provides much of the development assistance needs in terms of resources for our own development aspirations,” Minister Pato said.

“I gave all the member states a status report on the preparations that were underway in Papua new Guinea for this meeting and based on that run down it was clear that so many of those representative of member states will be attending our meeting.”