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

Distinguished Guests
Your Excellencies
Friends of the ACP Group
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the ACP House on this joyous occasion.  The 6th of June 2008 marked the 33rd anniversary of the ACP Group.  It is pleasing particularly for me and my country, Djibouti, that we are celebrating this milestone under our presidency of the ACP Group. 

I do not need to regurgitate the changes that our Group has gone through since the Georgetown Agreement was signed in Guyana in 1975.  The evolving steps that we have taken from Lomé I in 1975 to the conclusion of Lomé IV in 2000, and now the current Cotonou Agreement, demonstrates--in my view--our growing maturity and self-assertiveness as a Group.  Truth be told, it has been an audacious road to travel.  The adjustments that we have to make as a Group has been challenging, considering that each member state is guided primarily by its own national interests but expected to adjust to and survive in a fluid and globalizing international environment. 

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to pay homage to the European Union for its cooperation and support over the years.  We have shared a long historical association.  The context of our partnership, which is predicated on political dialogue, meaningful development and trade considerations, is something that the ACP Group values very much.  There is great scope for enhancing the bonds of our affiliation. The next revision phase of the Cotonou Agreement commences in early 2009 and the ACP side looks forward with anticipation to a productive process. 

Regional integration in the ACP regions remains integral to our quest for peace and political stability that is a prerequisite for meaningful economic growth and development.  To that end, we expect the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to aid this process.  The ACP Group remains optimistic that the best possible outcomes would emanate in the end to suit our needs first while conforming to global demands. 

I would like to acknowledge and welcome the positive spirit of unity and solidarity that has engulfed the ACP fraternity in all these years. I appeal that you maintain this fortitude for, as you know “united we stand and divided we fall”.

To close, I encourage Colleague Ambassadors and the staff of the ACP Secretariat to take a much deserved rest during the upcoming break remembering that we have an extremely busy second semester of the year.  Perhaps the most critical upcoming event is the ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government that is scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, in early October 2008.  We look forward to guidance from our leaders particularly in a number of issues that require immediate attention.  These include high food prices, the rising cost of fuel and energy, and the finalization of the EPAs. 

I thank you once more for your attendance.