Hon. William HAOMAE Opening Statement Ceremony of the 34rd ACP-EC Council of Ministers Madam Co-President At the outset, please allow me to express my thanks and gratitude to you Madam Co-President and the rest of our Ministerial colleagues on both sides for showing the willingness and commitment to be here today. Co-President, we do have important items on our agenda that require our attention and specific effort. Among them is the 2nd five-year revision of the Cotonou Agreement. The ACP Council has carefully considered this important matter and we have proposals that we will be presenting to your side. No doubt, it is in the interests of all our member states that this Agreement is revised to ensure that it remains relevant and applicable to the reality and demands of the world today. Indeed, the Agreement is not divinely carved onto a stone tablet. The fact remains therefore that equating the ‘spirit of Cotonou’ with the respective national interests of signatory countries from both sides is a monumental task. We all desire sustainable development for populations, but there is no one single pathway to this goal. Therefore, I call on you so that we surmount our effort and energy to ensure that our deeds through this revision exercise are translated to tangible outcomes. Madam Co-President The state of play of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) is the another issue that concerns us all. Going by the outcomes of the recent Joint ACP-EU Ministerial Trade Committee (JMTC), there is much yet that needs to be done. The ACP Group agrees that the EPAs, once fully implemented, are tools that exude great potential to meet our development goals – among which are the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty, and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the global economy. The hallmark of any partnership is the willingness to trust and respect each other. It is in that spirit of cooperation Co-President that the ACP Group is willing to explore ways that would allow our sides to continue to work together to overcome predicaments, dilemmas and impasses that are evident at the national and regional levels which are linked to the EPA process. The ACP side is looking for decisive steps - guided by political will – that can move the process forward. Finally Madam Co-President, this 34th Joint Council session is taking place at a time when the world over is gripped by the international economic and financial crisis. At the same time, the effects of climate change are felt in all corners of the world. Dear Ministers, on both issues – there is no escape. Therefore, let us utilize every fora such as this one to look for workable solutions to ease our burden now and in future. With that brief remark, I thank you for your attention.
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