ACP PRESS RELEASE – Kinshasa, November 29 2010: The 22nd Session of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly was held today, and was addressed by the President of Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E Leon Kengo wa Dondo in Kinshasa. He expressed his Government’s pleasure in hosting the event stating that it showed the climate of tranquility that exists in the country after many years of conflict. He added that his country will continue to strive to improve in its development aspirations. President of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly and ACP Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Honourable David Matongo, speaking on-behalf of the ACP Parliamentarians expressed his appreciation for the warm-welcome and hospitality of the Government and the people of DRC. Assistant Secretary-General of the ACP Secretariat in charge of Political Affairs and Human development, Ms Michèle Dominique Raymond also expressed the same sentiments when delivering a statement on-behalf of the Secretary-General, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas. ACP Parliamentarians in the session, exchanged views on reports from the standing committees on Political Affairs; Economic Development, Finance and Trade; and Social Affairs and the Environment. One of the major issues that the MPs extensively debated is the Lisbon Treaty’s silence on the ACP Group. ACP MPs are likely to raise the concern when they meet with their European counterparts in the 20th JPA Session, which starts in Kinshasa from 2- 4 December.