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Statement made by H.E Mr. Ali Osman Mohamed Taha Vice President of The Republic of The Sudan at the opening session of the 84th ACP Council of Ministers KHARTOUM, SUDAN , DECEMBER 2006 H. E the President of the ACP Council of Ministers I have great pleasure in addressing this important gathering of ACP Ministers who are here today for the first time. In fact this is the first time that Sudan has hosted an ACP Council meeting and we are therefore honored to receive you here, and on behalf of the Government and People of the Sudan I warmly welcome you all. We are particularly pleased that Sudan was provided the opportunity and privilege to host this session of the Council as well as the 5th ACP Summit in Khartoum on the 50 th Anniversary of our independence and in the same year it hosted the AU and the Arab summits. Mr President Another important factor is that you are here today, while we are heavily engaged in the implementation of both the Comprehensive Peace Agreement concluded in Naivasha, Kenya on 9 January 2005 and the Darfur Peace Agreement that was concluded recently in May 2006 and the East Peace Agreement signed in Asmara, Eritrea in November. 2006. The Government is presently taking all measures to ensure the timely implementation of all agreements and exerting every effort to attract other factions to join the DPA in close cooperation with the African Union. So far envisaged commitments are being thoroughly met by all parties. We are confident that the other rebel groups will join the agreement. Following the conclusion of the DPA with the major rebel Group the SLA, security and Humanitarian situation has steadily improved and isolated security incidents were reported in 5 localities out of 23 localities in Darfur. We hope that the International Community meets their obligations and commitments to help us face the challenge of peace in Sudan. We are counting on the continued support from the ACP group. This peace effort has created a positive environment that has enabled us to achieve substantial progress in addressing the needs of the population. The economic programme has been strengthened by an accelerated growth rate and the financial performance stabilized. FDI in Sudan ranks high among others, and Sudan has witnessed sustained growth rate for the last ten years averaging 8%. The Government on its part is presently mobilizing national support to the peace agreements through constructive internal dialogue including all the people of Darfur. I am pleased to put on record our appreciation for the efforts made by the African Union and the Governments of Kenya, Nigeria and Eritrea who hosted the negotiations and all other countries that supported the negotiations. Mr. President, Your decision to hold both this session of the ACP Council and Summit in Khartoum is a great support to us and demonstrates solidarity of the ACP Group with the Sudanese people in their search for peace and prosperity. I understand this is a regular ACP Council session and is normally held in Brussels, but this session is of particular importance not only because it was held outside Brussels but of the fact that it was tasked with the preparation for the 5th. ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government. I assure you that we have taken appropriate measures to ensure the success of this session and most important the meetings of our Heads of State and Government. Following the successful conclusion of AU and the Arab Summits, I am confident that the coming summit shall be equally successful. At this juncture I welcome and appreciate the support envisaged from the EU to supplement Government financing of the 5th• ACP summit. Mr. President, I noted the heavy schedule of your meetings, which include important agenda items as well as the task for preparing for the Summit. Issues of importance are the relations with our partners the European Union and the status of the Economic Partnership Agreements following the suspension of the multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO and our increased concern over their implications. Global Commitments specifically towards achieving MDGs are of crucial importance and shall also feature at the ACP Summit of Head of States and Governments. Special emphasis shall be placed on ACP external debt; additionally of resources for EPA and effective and speedy utilization of EDF resources. You shall be engaged in constructive discussions on the draft Declaration for the Summit, which shall embody all the ACP, concerns and shall focus specifically on issues of relevance, and shall constitute following its adoption by the Summit the guidelines for our future engagements in the negotiations whether at the WTO or the EPA levels. Mr. President. While wishing you successful meetings I kindly invite you to spare some time to go around and discover Khartoum and enjoy the Sudanese hospitality. I hope your stay will be enjoyable and memorable. Thank You |
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