Opening Statement by the ACP Secretary General His Excellency Dr Patrick Gomes, during the opening session of the 107th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers Meeting in Lomé, Togo, 29th May 2018.

https://youtu.be/RQSKxoKNWtQ

Honourable Chair, Minister of Tourism and Culture of the Republic of the Gambia Hon. Hamat Bah

Honourable Ministers; Senior Officials

Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries of ACP member states

Distinguished guests, and friends

A special welcome to the Minister from the Dominican Republic. When we heard the ACP anthem [which you have just heard played], I wish to recall that the anthem was composed by the versatile musician of the Dominican Republic. We hear in it also the drumming that comes from your neighbouring island of Haiti. I'm always touched when I hear the anthem and we thank you very much for being with us.

Preparations for ACP-EU relations post-2020:  Approach and Core Principles 

Chairperson; 

Your Excellency, Dr. the Honourable Vice-President Inonge WINA; 

Secretary General Ngwenya; 

All protocols observed

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

- Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

-  Distinguished Honourable Ministers

-  Our Special Guests  Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, Director General of the WTO; and Ambassador Susana MALCORRA, Former Foreign Minister of Argentina and Chairperson of the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference

-  Permanent Secretaries and Directors-General of Ministries responsible for Trade matters

[Protocols]

I join in extending a welcome to Ministers and Heads of Delegation to this our 5^th Meeting on Fisheries & Aquaculture. It is with deep sadness that I make reference to the loss of life and devastating damage to property in the wake of recent and current hurricanes in their destructive paths and convey condolences to the Governments and peoples so affected.