Brussels, 5 May 2017/ ACP: The Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States closed its 105th session with two key decisions that will influence how the bloc of 79 countries will carve out a more effective role in the international arena.

Brussels, 3 May 2017/ ACP: The 105th session of the ACP Council of Ministers was opened today in Brussels, gathering high level officials from the 79 member states of the ACP Group to discuss and take decisions on major issues of common concern and interest. 

The 105th session of Council is presided over by the Minister of Finance and Cooperation of Ethiopia Dr. Abraham Tekeste. 

Following opening remarks by the ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Gomes, the President-in-Office of the United Nations General Assembly, Amb. Peter Thomson of Fiji addressed the Council of Ministers as a special invited guest.

Honorable Ministers

H.E. Dr. Patrick I. GOMES, Secretary-General of the ACP Group,

H.E. Dr. Abraham TEKESTE, Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, President in Office of Council

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here today in Brussels to address the 105^th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Your Excellency the President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Peter THOMSON

Honourable Ministers,

Your Excellency, Secretary-General GOMES,

Excellencies, Ambassadors

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring you warm greetings from His Excellency President TESHOME, His Excellency Prime Minister DESALEGN, and the Government and People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Land of Origins. It is a great honour for me to be presiding over the affairs of our 105^th Council Session.

Brussels, 29 April 2017/ ACP: The Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Benelux countries and the European Union H.E Mr. Teshome Toga Chanaka presides over the Committee of Ambassadors of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group for the period 1 February 2017 - 31 July 2017. He shares with ACP Press priority issues for the coming months in his tenure, including discussions on the future of the ACP Group, including ACP-EU relations. 

***

Brussels, 3 April 2017/ ACP: Seventy-nine countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific will speak with one voice as they prepare to negotiate a major partnership framework with the European Union.

The new accord will follow on the current ACP-EU Partnership Agreement (also known as the Cotonou Agreement), which covers trade, development cooperation and political dialogue between the two parties until 2020.

Geneva, 24 March 2017/ ACP: Experts have highlighted the importance “coherent global actions” to ensure the sustainability of the world’s fish stocks – a valuable export commodity for more than 60 ACP countries. Fisheries is particularly significant to the ACP’s 37 member states that are classified as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as coastal economies.

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States is following keenly the political developments in the Gambia following Presidential elections held on 1^st December 2016 that led to the election of President Elect Adama Barrow.

Concerned at the volte – face by President Yahya Jammeh, the ACP calls for respect of the will of the Gambian people as expressed by the election results and the need for a peaceful and orderly transfer of power to the President elect.

The ACP Group of States seizes this opportunity to support all efforts by the International Community and Regional Organisations, in particular ECOWAS, to ensure smooth and peaceful transfer of power to President elect Adama Barrow on 19^th January 2017

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States congratulates the people of Ghana for a smooth, peaceful and successful, organization of the Presidential and parliamentary elections held on the 7^th December 2016.

The ACP Congratulates President Elect Nana Akufo-Addo for his election and accession to the Presidency of the Republic of Ghana. The ACP commends President John Dramani Mahama for the graceful acceptance of the results of the elections.

The ACP Group stands committed to promoting peace, good governance and democracy in ACP states and applauds the people of Ghana for affirming the strength of Ghana’s democracy through this election.