The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

ACP PRESS RELEASE: 26 January 2010 — At its 19th Session in Brussels, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Assembly expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the people and Government of Haiti following the devastating earthquake on January 12.

The President of the ACP Assembly and Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Hon. Charles Milupi, in expressing the Assembly’s sympathy also called on the international community to remain engaged with Haiti as it enters the reconstruction period.

He said that the greater challenge for Haiti lies ahead, in reconstructing the damaged infrastructure and social services.

Mr Milupi stressed that Haiti will still need the assistance of the international community for many more years to come.

“It is our fervent hope that the international relief efforts will continue to stabilize the present situation, especially in the maintaining of law and order, preventing hunger and preventing the outbreak of diseases,” the president, said.

The Assembly observed a minute silence for the victims of the Haiti earthquake and those that died in the Ethiopian Airlines passenger plane crash.

Members expressed their condolences and sympathies of the Assembly to the people and Government of Ethiopia over the Ethiopian airlines disaster on Monday 25 January 2010.

On Haiti, the Assembly was informed of the various contributions from ACP countries towards the disaster relief, and the reconstruction of the infrastructure damaged during the earthquake.