(ACP Group)
(Groupe ACP)
Website
: http://www.acp.int
|
|
|
|
||||
|
(ACP Group) |
(Groupe ACP) |
||||||
| 451 Avenue Georges Henri | Avenue Georges Henri, 451 | ||||||
| 1200 Brussels, Belgium | 1200 Bruxelles, Belgique | ||||||
| Tel: 32 2 743 06 00 | Fax: +32 2 735 55 73 | ||||||
| email: info@acp.int |
Website
: http://www.acp.int
|
||||||
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 47TH MEETING OF THECOUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS(Brussels, 30, 31 MAY AND 1 JUNE 1989)Ref: ACP/25/021/89 AMS/evoBrussels, 9th October 1989Retyped by : bm |
|||||||
OPENING CEREMONY
The opening ceremony of the 47th Meeting of the Council of ACP Ministers was presided over by its President-in-Office, RATU SIR KAMISESE MARA, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Fiji. The text of the intervention of the President of this occasion is attached as Annex I to this Report.
COUNCIL'S PROCEEDINGS
I. Hosting of the signing of the new Convention
The President told the participants that since the last meeting of Council, he had received a letter dated 22nd February from the Government of Togo indicating that country's interest in hosting the signing of the next ACP-EEC Convention. A copy of this letter was transmitted to all ACP Missions on 3rd March 1989 under the reference number ACP/27/003/89. Since no other offers had been received in reaction to that information, the Bureau agreed to recommend to Council that the Group endorse the invitation and that the Government of Togo be thanked.
Council endorsed by applause the Bureau's recommendation to accept Togo's offer to host the signing ceremony of the new Convention.
On behalf of the Head of State of and Government of Togo, the Minister from that country thanked the ACP President, the Bureau of Council and all the delegations for accepting the offer to host the signing of the new Convention. In accepting once again the offer by Togo, the Minister said Council not only showed confidence in his country but it also recognized the importance in his country attached to ACP-EEC Cooperation. He was grateful to Council for the timely decision it took on the matter as this would enable his country to make the necessary arrangements in good time.
The Minister also thanked Zimbabwe for showing a spirit of understanding and cooperation in supporting Togo's application to host the signing ceremony of the new Convention.
Finally, the Minister invited all ACP countries to the signing ceremony.
ii. Mission to the Dominican Republic
The President also received a letter dated 10 March 1989, from the Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic inviting an ACP delegation to visit his country in the context of that country's application to join the ACP Group and the next Convention. The Chairman of the
Committee of Ambassadors was requested to select and lead such a delegation. This de did the previous week and the Bureau received a brief oral report from him on the mission while awaiting the final written report which would be available sometime during the Session of Council.
iii. The Financial situation of the Secretariat
The President recalled that a couple of months before, he had communicated to ACP countries an appeal to honour their outstanding financial obligations to the ACP Secretariat budget. He expressed gratefulness for the positive response by a number of ACP States, in particular, BURUNDI which had even paid an advance on the 1990 budget.
The Bureau had an exchange of views on the situation, taking note of the sanctions in the financial regulations of the Group. It recommended, however, that Council should take steps to ascertain the reasons for non-payment in the case of long-overdue defaulters and requested the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors to take every possible initiative to ensure the payment of the outstanding amounts. It further recommended that if by next Council meeting the situation persisted, and if explanations had not been provided for non-payment of contributions, the rules and sanctions should be applied.
iv. Requests for observer status to ACP and ACP-EEC Meetings by:
- United Nations Council for Namibia [to the ACP-EEC Council];
- Shelter Afrique and Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel [to ACP Council];
- the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly [to ACP-EEC Council].
The Bureau recommended all the applications for a favourable consideration by Council.
Council agreed to confer observer status to all the organizations above and to support their requests for same to the ACP-EEC Council.
v. Fourteenth Anniversary Celebrations of the ACP Group
The President drew attention of Council to the arrangements which were being made to celebrate the 14th Anniversary of the Group on Tuesday, 6 June.
vi. Visit by the Secretary General to the Pacific Region
The Secretary General, at the request of the President and on the invitation of the ACP South Pacific Forum of Ministers, took part in the meetings of the ACP Pacific Ministers and the ACP Pacific Ministers and the EEC, in Fiji, in early May. His visit provided an opportunity for the President to be briefed on ACP developments and to be able to transmit certain information to the ACP Committee of Ambassadors.
The Pacific Region appreciated this closer cooperation with the ACP General Secretariat.
vii. Post of Secretary
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors reminded the President and the Bureau that by 31st August 1989, the President of Council should, in accordance with the Staff Regulations of the Secretariat, notify ACP States of the vacancy of the post of Secretary General of the ACP Secretariat for the next term. The President was also reminded that, at the latest, on the 30th November, i.e., three months before the expiry of this mandate, the Secretary General should be informed whether his services would be maintained, prolonged or terminated. The next Council meeting would have to be held before 30 November 1989.
viii. Invitation by Fiji to host the ACP-EEC Council meeting scheduled for 1990
The Bureau took note of the offer by Fiji to host the next meeting of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers scheduled for 1990 in an ACP State.
The Bureau noted that as the Joint Assembly was scheduled to meet in Papua New Guinea the same year, every effort should be made to coordinate the hosting of the two meetings to facilitate attendance by those who would have to attend both.
Council thanked the Government of Fiji for its offer to host the ACP-EEC Council meeting to be held in 1990.
The summary record of the 46th Meeting of the Council of Ministers was presented by the Hon. Pierre NGAKA, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the People's Republic of Congo. He told the meeting that the Minister was unable to be present to introduce the report himself.
He thanked the Friends of the Rapporteur and the Secretariat for their contribution towards finalizing the Summary Record. He then presented the document after which exercise he invited Council to adopt it.
Council adopted the summary record of its 46th Meeting with the following amendments:
- page 12, last paragraph in the brackets: add 'tourism, fish and fishery products, live bovine, bovine animals, sheep and goats, etc..'
- page 13 bis: last paragraph under Group 4: add to the last sentence after 'idea' "of reduction of oil imports."
The list of decisions and resolutions adopted by the Committee of Ambassadors on behalf of Council were also noted after being presented by H. E. Mr R. CHASLE, Ambassador of Mauritius and Chairman-in-Office of the said Committee.
Council Meetings held in Brussels, the region of West Africa was required to provide one for the 47th Meeting. Consequently, the Minister from Senegal, the nominee of West Africa as indicated by the Minister from Niger, was appointed Rapporteur to the Session.
The countries listed hereunder were appointed by their respective regions to Be friends of the Rapporteur:
- Central Africa : GABON
- East Africa : SUDAN
- Southern Africa : ZIMBABWE
- Caribbean : TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Pacific : TONGA
The Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors, H. E. Mr R. CHASLE, Ambassador of Mauritius introduced(1) the report on the activities of the Committee since the previous meeting of the ACP Council held in February 1989 in Brazzaville, Congo. In doing so, he concentrated on the specific developments which had take place as concerned the implementation of the Lomé III Convention, Intra-ACP Cooperation and ACP internal matters.
Regarding the issues pertaining to Article 47 Committee [Agricultural Commodities] and Sugar, Council was advised that reports on these areas would be submitted after the meetings of the Special Ministerial Committees dealing with them.
The exchange of views covered notably the following subjects:
Financial and Technical Cooperation
Council stressed the need for a systematic transfer of appropriate technology and management skills to the ACP States which are in need of them for their overall development.
Regional Cooperation
Regional Cooperation should aim at the integration of regional markets. The Community should assist the ACP States in developing their economies to meet the national and regional market needs. The development of viable economies in ACP countries to reach the markets of the wider world.
Security
In calling for EEC assistance for the transformation of ACP economies, Council referred to the need to create a secure and stable atmosphere which is conductive to economic development. The situation whereby some ACP States are in constant threat from, or are victims of aggression from South Africa is not only harmful to any meaningful economic development but also constituted a violation of human rights and human dignity which the Convention purports to safeguard.
The Community should be urged to bring pressure to bear on South Africa to abandon its practices and policy of apartheid and put a stop to its acts of aggression and destabilization of neighbouring ACP States.
Council called for the extension of the function of the CTA to include participation in the implementation of the Convention.
Uruguay Round
The ACP Secretariat should undertake a complete evaluation of the effects of the GATT Multilateral Trade Negotiations on the ACP exports. Meanwhile, there should be effective consultations between the ACP Group and the Community on the Uruguay Round. In addition, the Committee of Ambassadors should pursue its coordination with ACP Missions in Geneva so as to harmonize positions. The ACP States should endeavour to participate in the GATT meetings of the Uruguay Round of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations.
Tropical Timber
After directing that the last paragraph on this item in the activity report Be revised to reflect the correction situation, Council agreed to call on the EEC side to engage in bilateral consultations to resolve the issue of access of this commodity to the Community market along the following lines:
- lifting of the levy on tropical timber exported by ACP States into the Community;
- compensation for the loss incurred through the levy imposed up to date; and
- that the Community Member State concerned should take necessary measures to ensure that the ACP country affected by the levy, regain its competitiveness on the market in question.
Bananas
Council indicated that the requirements for access of ACP bananas to the German market were too stringent, and as such further discussions with the German importers were necessary to find a solution which would enable ACP bananas to accede to the German market on the same or equivalent conditions as those stipulated in the Protocol.
Regarding the negotiations, Council endorsed the idea that nothing should be done to the Protocol to reduce its effect. It should be either improved or should be maintained as it stands and reinscribed into the new Convention.
Industrial Cooperation
Council referred to the Industrial Cooperation meeting for West Africa held in Lagos from 3rd to 7th April 1988 and thanked the Federal Military Government of Nigeria for hosting it. Council welcomed this initiative by the CDI in organizing meetings of that sort.
Council also considered and endorsed the recommendation by the Committee of Ambassadors on the contribution of the Joint Governing Board of the CDI for the successor arrangements to Lomé III Convention.
Regarding the study on the evaluation of the CDI by the Commission selected consultants, Council dissociated itself from the document because it did not comply with the rules of procedure for conducting an evaluation study under the Lomé Convention. This is a joint exercise. Council further agreed that the ACP Group should reject any reference whatsoever to that report for the purpose of negotiating the terms of Industrial Development and Cooperation for the next ACP-EEC Convention.
Situation in South and Southern Africa
The Chairman of the Committee apprised Council of the efforts made by the Committee of Ambassadors to ensure that a follow-up ACP-EEC Ministerial meeting to the one held in Luxembourg in April 1988 was convened before the end of Spanish Presidency of the EEC. The Community side had held the idea that a meeting on the same matter was being convened between the 12 EEC Foreign Ministers and those of the Front Lines States. In addition, the Community would be making a statement on the subject. The Community had invited the Chairman of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors and the Secretary General to that meeting.
The Chairman indicated that in his reply to his Community counterpart, he declined the invitation extended to him and the Secretary General. The Chairman noted with satisfaction the holding of the meeting but deplored the fact that the Community was unable to respond favourably to the ACP request. The Chairman urged Council to take a firm stand on this issue at the Joint Council meeting. A communication was made by the representative of the Front Line States about the difficult situation in the region.
Council took note of the Chairman's report and the information by the delegate of Zambia that the region of Southern Africa would make a statement on the subject. Council further approved the suggestion that in the provisions of the new Convention, the ACP should seek to strengthen the Community's commitment to abolish apartheid.
International Centre for Bantu Civilization [CICBA]
Having heard the presentation by the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors on the difficulties faced by Gabon in obtaining funds from the Community to pursue and complete notably the construction of the building of the Centre, Council agreed to give support to the request for assistance from the Community. It further agreed to press the matter at the Joint Session with a view to obtaining a positive response from the EEC side.
As requested by Council, the text of the intervention by the Minister from Mauritius on some of the issues raised in the submission by the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors is attached as Annex II.
After discussion, Council adopted the structure proposed by the Committee of Ambassadors.
Central Negotiating Group [CNG]
The progress report on this section was presented by H. E. Mr R. CHASLE, Ambassador of Mauritius and Ambassadorial spokesman on the issues falling under the CNG. The progress report covered areas where agreement was reached ad referendum and those where both parties agreed to indicate their respective positions.
The Ambassadorial spokesman indicated that the ACP had informed the Community that environment would be dealt with as a specific Chapter. A text had been elaborated by Group 7 concerning the Group which would take care of the item regarding environment.
In the exchange of views that followed the presentation, Council made observations on notably the points hereunder:
- Mechanism for implementation of Lomé IV: Proposal for a permanently staffed ACP-EEC Mixed Commission
The Head of Delegation of Trinidad and Tobago, Senator Dr. SAHADEO BASDEO, Minister of External Affairs and International Trade, proposed the establishment of a permanently staffed ACP-EEC Mixed Commission, headed by a High Commissioner, to implement the successor to the Lomé III Convention.
Council took note of the proposal and agreed that the matter be referred
to the Committee of Ambassadors to study it and assess its implications. It would also study ways and means of improving the implementation of the Convention. The text of the intervention of the Head of the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago, should be circulated to all ACP delegations.
- Dialogue
Council was not opposed to dialogue as a method of work in the context of ACP-EEC Cooperation. It was, however, opposed to the idea of being transformed into a principle which could be used as a political conditionality. Council expressed the view that assurances be sought from the Community to the effect that adopting a text on dialogue would not be used in the implementation process against the ACP States but it would rather respect the sovereignty of ACP States and be in keeping with the spirit of the Convention.
- Human Rights
In its discussion on this issue, Council referred to the UN Human Rights Charter, the European Charter on Human Rights and the OAU Charter on Human Rights and Rights of Peoples. Council recalled that the UN had declared apartheid as a crime against humanity.
Council considered that there was inconsistency in the Community's position which, in the context of the UN, accepted the idea of apartheid being a crime against humanity and would not accept to include it in the main body of the Convention to which the Member States subscribe. Further, the Commission had accepted the credentials of the Ambassador of South Africa.
Following from the above, Council considered that there was justification to include reference to apartheid in the body of the future Convention and that it should be decoupled from human rights. The Community should be bound to discuss with the ACP the issue of dismantling apartheid in the context of the implementation of the Convention. If the fight against apartheid is not mentioned in the body of the Convention, the text on human rights would present some distinct imbalances. In that case, it would even be appropriate to retain the text in the text of the current Convention.
Likewise, the question of the situation of ACP students and migrant workers residing legally in the EEC Member States should be incorporated in the body of the Convention.
Finally, Council endorsed the proposal that the human rights Chapter should be relabelled "Human Rights and Rights of Peoples." Council expressed the view that if specific reference to students and migrant workers and to the problem of apartheid were not included in the main body of the Convention it would be preferable to revert to the Lomé III provisions.
- Non-discrimination
Council noted that there was discrimination against both ACP products and the movement of ACP nationals in the Community Member States. If the Member States were not committed by the Convention not to discriminate between ACP States the Convention would lose much of its meaning. Trade, an essential area of ACP-EEC Cooperation, takes place between ACP States and EEC Member States. Therefore the EEC Member States should be called upon not to discriminate among ACP countries, irrespective of the special relations and agreements they might have with other countries outside the Convention arrangements.
NEGOTIATING GROUP 1: Agricultural Cooperation, Food Security and Rural Development, Environment and Protection of Natural Resources, Fisheries [Joint Report: ACP-CEE 2137/89 (Pages 22-40); ACP Report: ACP/00/331/89 NEG Rev.1 (Pages 4-9)]
In his report on the state of progress of the negotiations in the area of Group 1, the Ambassadorial spokesman, H. E. Mr Ibrahim SYLLA of Guinea, on the basis of the presentation in the Joint Report, apprised Council of developments in the three main sections of Group 1:
He pointed out areas where key points had been proposed and made the following major observations under each of the three main sections of Negotiating Group 1.
Section I: Agricultural Cooperation, Food Security and Rural Cooperation
Council should insist on the questions regarding:
- Agricultural research
- Rural Credit.
Section II: Environment
The main outstanding issues concern toxic waste and consultations on major hazards. The ACP is of the view that this question should be dealt with by the Central Negotiating Group.
Section III: Fisheries
Some progress had been made since Brazzaville but during the current session, Council should emphasize, among the priority objectives, the following two areas where the Community has some reservations : ACP request for the need:
- to increase the involvement of the ACP States in the exploitation of fishery resources within their exclusive economic zones;
- to increase the means of protection with the two fold aim of protecting natural resources and controlling their exploitation.
During the exchange of views, the comments made dwelt mainly on the following issues:
- Agricultural research: management and coordination of agricultural research could be difficult at the level of all ACP States. It would consequently be better to strengthen the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation [CTA] to enable it to provide increased research possibilities and information to ACP States. The CTA should therefore be provided with increased financial means to achieve this objective.
- Consistency at sectorial and macroeconomic level:
The proposed key points [on page 33 of the Joint Report] are likely to draw the ACP into more difficulties relating to policy dialogue nature.
- Environment:
The proposed key points on Methods and criteria for environmental analysis [page 38 of the Joint Report] might prove to be a form of "conditionally" and delay further the implementation of projects or programmes. There was a need therefore to ensure that provisions which might impose constraints on the process of development were avoided.
- Fisheries:
More emphasis should be laid on the capacity of ACP States in developing fishery industries; the ACP should insist that the Community provide ACP States, both at national and regional levels, with more means for surveillance and exploitation of fishery products resources.
NEGOTIATING GROUP 2: Trade Cooperation, Customs Cooperation, Rules of Origin, Trade Promotion and Marketing Services
In his presentation, the Ambassadorial spokesman on Group 2, H. E. Mr L.A. WILSON of Jamaica, recalled the positions which existed on both sides regarding issues under the purview of Group 2 at the Brazzaville Ministerial Conference in February 1989, and the mandates handed down by the Ministers for the continuation of the negotiations in Brussels.
He referred to the limited progress made on the negotiations of Group 2 issues and mentioned specifically the difficulties encountered by the ACP in trying to get the Community to move on a number of issues. The EEC considered that the Convention's trade regime represented the most liberal and generous regimes offered to any country or group of countries by the Community. He noted, however, that the basis of the ACP request on trade in the context of the current negotiations was a further liberalization of the trade regime.
The Spokesman then reviewed the state of negotiations on all the subjects covered by the Group identifying the areas of convergence and those where difficulties still persisted. He drew attention to trade promotion and trade in services where there had not been discussions. The delay in formulating an ACP position on some specific issues was due to the fact that studies had been commissioned to assist the ACP Group develop its positions. He requested Council to renew its mandate to the Committee of Ambassadors to pursue negotiations in the areas where there had not been any discussions to date.
In the exchange of views that ensued, Council referred to notably the following:
- Rice : In addition to the position set out in document ACP/00/451/89 [of April 19, 1989], the ACP should seek to retain the acquis in Annex XXIII of Lomé III Convention and should further request the current rice arrangements to be upgraded to an exchange of letters incorporating the following elements:
a. an increase in the annual quota granted preferential access;
b. an annual growth factor;
c. creation of a roll-over mechanism;
d. special arrangements for export to DOMs and OCTs; and
e. improvement in the licensing system.
- Sugar: Traditional suppliers of sugar to the Portuguese market request for improved access of their sugar to that market.
- Bananas: Council requested that in the negotiations, the question of the Banana Protocol be defined in the context of 1992 while preserving all its past and current advantages on the Community markets.
- Rum: Council referred to the brands of rum produced in Spain and Portugal and urged the negotiators to seek to resolve the threat
those brands posed in the same way as was done for the case of German rum Verschnitt. Council reiterated its position that ACP rum should be treated as an industrial product free from all restrictions on the Community markets.
- Beef and Veal:
The ACP beef and veal suppliers to the EEC market requested for an increase in the annual global quota.
- The Principle of EEC Preference for ACP products
The ACP negotiators should endeavour to reach agreement with the Community on the inclusion of this principle in the next Convention. This is necessary as the Community is continually increasing import from non-ACP countries of products which either compete with those of the ACP States or are substitutes of ACP products. In accepting this principle, ACP preferential access to EEC markets would be enhanced.
- Non-discrimination:
In respect of trade matters, the Community and its Member States should not be allowed to discriminate among ACP States as the ACP States are bound under Article 136 of the Lomé III Convention not to discriminate between Member States on matters of trade. Council took note of the proposal for inclusion in the next Convention of provisions whereby, in the event of any new Member acceding to the EEC, ACP countries should not be obliged to extend immediately to that Member State all preferences they grant to the current Member signatories to the ACP-EEC Convention.
- Safeguard Clause:
The ACP position regarding the safeguard clause is its total removal. However, if this objective is not attained, the ACP should seek to include in the new Convention a provision similar to that of Article XIX of the GATT, of which the Community Member States are Contracting Parties. Such Article in the new Convention should require payment of compensation or the provisions of comparable or equivalent concessions or preferences to ACP countries which may be affected by the imposition of the safeguard clause.
Likewise in the framework of EEC private investments in ACP States, the Group should request that transfer of appropriate technology should be encouraged through measures to be set out in the Convention, which measures should include the abolition of barriers.
- 1992 Single Europe Act
In order that the ACP Group could be in a position to consult with the Community on the possible effects of the 1992 Single Europe Act on ACP-EEC relations, Council stressed the need to have a separate ad hoc arrangement between the two parties which would allow them to continue discussions on the implications of the Single European Market after the signing of the new Convention.
In addition, Council registered the following proposals in the context of the 1992 Single Europe Act:
- the inclusion in the new Convention of a clause guaranteeing ACP trade preferences and other privileges on the Community market;
- the signing of new protocols or arrangements for new products such as cotton and oil-bearing seeds to guarantee their export and remunerative prices.
- Rules of Origin and Derogation:
Council established and upheld the view that rules of origin are incompatible with the level of economic development of ACP countries. Therefore they should be relaxed to stimulate industrial production in ACP countries, the products of which industrial activity would benefit from the preferential access to the Community. Council called for a reduction in the value added [below 40%] and increased Community assistance, in the spirit of interdependence, to the promotion of ACP industrial production.
Failing the above, the rules of origin would continue to circumscribe the development pace and activities of ACP countries, resulting in a countries to the Community markets. Council deplored that while the Convention purports to uphold the ideals of interdependence, the EEC Member States continue to import raw materials from non-ACP countries in the name of competitiveness and export the finished goods to ACP countries.
- Trade Promotion
Council observed that marketing and distribution of ACP products
is a major difficulty largely caused by lack of capacity to penetrate the markets of developed countries, Community inclusive. In the ongoing negotiations, assistance should be sought from the Community to build up the capacity of ACP countries to promote effectively their consultancies drawn from either the Community or the ACP regions. In addition, a specific provision should be made in the new Convention for financial assistance to be given to those ACP countries or regions which run their trade investments and promotion institutions. The Committee was requested to study the proposal for the establishment of an appropriate institution for the promotion of ACP products.
NEGOTIATING GROUP 3: Commodities, Stabex and Sysmin [Joint Report: ACP-CEE 2137/89 (pages 51-61) ACP Report: ACP/00/331/89 (pages 14-25)]
The Ambassadorial spokesman, H. E. Mr ODONGUI-BONNARD of Gabon, assessing the negotiations in these 3 areas, indicated that no progress had been made since Brazzaville, considering the complexity of the subject matters under examination.
Section I: Commodities
On the following 3 major questions submitted by the ACP before Brazzaville, no progress had been accomplished:
a. 50% PMDT target by the year 2000 and its corollary the Special Programme of Action
The Committee of Ambassadors requests Council to insist on PMDT which the Committee considers to be the best long-term solution to the Commodity problem.
b. International Cooperation
The Community reiterates its support for Commodity Agreements but rejects the concept of stabilizing just and remunerative prices. Separate draft key points [Annex III.2] show ACP and EEC differing perceptions of the objectives of International Cooperation.
Further, with respect to Article 47 Committee [subject matter yet to be examined], both the ACP and the EEC have expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of this Committee.
c. Special arrangements
The Community flatly rejects ACP proposals in this area.
Section II : STABEX
a. Objectives and scope of the system
The Community is of the view that the objectives of the Stabex system, as provided for in Article 47 of Lomé III, cannot be met by the resources under the Stabex mechanism.
The Community is consequently calling for a redefinition of the objectives of the system, thereby minimizing the principle of "acquis."
b. Method of calculation
The ACP have submitted proposals which are to be studied by the Community.
c. Reference period
In their new proposals, the ACP suggest a reference period of 15 years.
EEC reaction is awaited on ACP proposals regarding both the method of calculation and the reference period.
Section III : SYSMIN
There have been no discussions since Brazzaville. Council is requested to recall the position the ACP had adopted in Brazzaville on Sysmin.
Exchange of views of Council on Commodities
Statistics show that the rate of proceeding, with respect to coffee and cocoa, is undergoing a negative trend in ACP States, as compared to other developing countries. The 50% PMDT target is not too ambitious but it could be negotiated. Council should stress to the Community the importance of processing for ACP States whose economies would otherwise continue to remain fragile. Council si requested to give clear directives in this area and also with respect to the implementation of Article 45.
The ACP States themselves - and not the Community - are primarily responsible for the implementation of PMDT through the creation of the appropriate environment to attract private investors. The Community, however, can help the ACP States create attractive environment and conditions for private investors. A joint mechanism to enhance PMDT would be a Lomé Investment Guarantee Assistance, an ACP-EEC mechanism.
Regarding international cooperation concerning commodities, Council urged that the ACP should coordinate their positions on the Common Fund and be active in the signing of this agreement. They should also consult with the Community in view of common strategies. Further, the Community should be requested to use its influence in the Uruguay Round to press Malaysia to join the agreement.
On Stabex
The current negotiations do not show any consolidation of the ACP "acquis" in the case of Article 147 i.e.,:
- the remedying of harmful effects;
- the safeguarding of ACP purchasing power;
- the guaranteeing of the stabilization of export earnings.
Council should therefore aim at retaining at least the Lomé III provisions on the objectives and scope of the Stabex system [Article 147]:
- the "acquis" principle should be applied to all destinations provisions of Lomé III [Article 150. iii]
- on the question regarding the reference period, clarifications were sought mainly on some aspects of the ACP proposals [length of the reference period, availability of study backing ACP position, etc..].
NEGOTIATING GROUP 4: Industrial Cooperation, Agro-Industry, Manufactures, the Development of Mineral Products, Energy
The ACP Ambassadorial spokesman on Group 4, H. E. Mr K. NSINGO of Zambia, said that after the Brazzaville meetings, negotiations on Group 4 issues were pursued with the presentation of 3 dossiers on:
- Institutional framework for implementation of the successor Chapter on Industrial Cooperation;
- Objectives of Industrial Cooperation in the successor Convention;
- Advancing key phrases and articles on energy, manufacture and mining.
The submissions on each of the above subjects on which key sentences were elaborated, covered:
- objectives
- areas or programmes of action; and
- instruments : structural and functional relationship of institutions that implement the Convention.
These submissions were premised on the manner the ACP had defined the problems of under-development and solutions were discerned, articulated and rationalized on the basis of said problem-definition.
The spokesman observed that the under-developed economies were essentially characterised by dependence on the export of one or two major primary products, lacked adequate sectoral linkages necessary for engendering an internal economic dynamic to sustain growth. There is a persistent imbalance between different economic sectors which were externally oriented. To eliminate this structural defect, the sectoral strategies should be designed in such a manner as to foster inter-linkages within and between economic sectors. Such a strategy would aim at increasing the local value added of primary products and at creating an effective capacity to export manufactured products while providing adequate local needs in the form of industrial raw materials, inputs and equipment for agriculture and mining.
Regarding the key sentences agreed to ad referendum, the spokesman indicated that they reflected at best the above and would be improved on as negotiations progressed. However, some provisions in the current Convention would be retained and beefed up, if they address the essential objectives of the above said strategy.
- Manufacturing Programmes
These are tailored to suit the needs of agriculture, mining and industry with a view to arresting the de-industrialization process being experienced by some ACP countries. In this regard, the Negotiating Group considered that it would be judicious to also improve the capacity utilisation and rehabilitation of existing industrial undertakings which are potentially viable. This approach is essential because new import dependent manufacturing enterprises absorbed much of the foreign exchange obtained from the export of one [major] product whose price continued to fall on the world market.
- Mining Sector
This sector should be sustained by creating measures to enhance the role of small and medium-size enterprises that are linked to domestic and regional markets. There is need also for developing new minerals.
The crucial role of regional cooperation in the integration of mining development with industrial development and creation of a large market base had been emphasized.
- Energy
The provisions of Lomé III Convention on Energy had been considered positive by the negotiating group but they would require reinforcement in areas. In this regard, the objective of cooperation in this areas would seek, notably, to extend electrification to the rural areas in order to reduce the demand for fuel wood. It would also encourage the development and reliance on alternative new and renewable energy sources.
- Resources
Concluding his remarks, the spokesman referred to the ACP proposal for a Mineral Resources Development Fund which is qualitatively different from SYSMIN aimed at financing the expensive and risky operations such as exploitation. This would enable the diversification of the mining sector and establishment of new ventures. A financing facility [SYSEN] for the development of new and renewable sources of energy was also proposed. This request had not been favourably received by the Community. He stressed the need to have such a facility; for Official Development Aid, and to some extent the EDF, are resources mainly intended for government type budgets and not geared to, for instance, building factories. The resources needed to implement effectively the provisions of the Convention on the area of industrial development should be geared towards development type undertaking, including production.
- Enterprises Development
Although the concept had originated from the EEC, the ACP has made proposals relating to financial assistance to be given to small and medium-sized enterprises, an SME Venture Capital Fund. The Community wold address the question of enterprise financing and support measures to protect foreign investments at a later stage.
The ACP sought clarification from the EEC on their interpretation of the concept of Enterprise Development and emphasized the need for such enterprises to be of a nature responsive to the structural needs of ACP economies.
The question of institutions, particularly, the CDI, would be addressed at a later stage in the negotiations. The ACP have indicated the need to ensure that the process of implementing the Industrial Cooperation Chapter is made more efficient by rationalizing relations between institutions of implementation.
In the exchange of views that followed the above presentation, Council reiterated the need to create, in ACP countries, a competitive atmosphere to attract private capital and resources from international financial institutions. In addition, ACP States should encourage the mobilization of domestic capital and the adoption
of stable appropriate legal and fiscal measures, and granting of subsidies in order to restore this climate atmosphere of investor confidence. The resources for implementing industrial cooperation must be increased in volume and directed at productive activities.
GROUP 5: Regional Cooperation [including transportation, telecommunications, informatics], Services and Tourism
In reporting on the state of progress in the negotiations on matters covered by Group 5, the Ambassadorial spokesman, H. E. Mr C.K. KATUNGI of Uganda, prefaced his intervention with an indication that a measure of progress had been achieved since the Brazzaville Ministerial Conference.
With respect to specific areas, the spokesman drew Council's attention to the following items:
- Regional Cooperation
There was convergence of views on nearly all aspects of this subject. Consequently, both sides prepared key sentences on which a consensus had been reached. The scope of regional cooperation as set out in Lomé III Convention should be consolidated.
- Regional Projects
He referred to the difficulties in the implementation of regional projects, particularly the long delays in the procedures; lack of ACP participation in the definition of regional projects and the limited role played by ACP regional organization.
- General Objectives
The ACP side stressed the need to preserve the "acquis" of Lomé III in respect of objectives of regional cooperation. The relation between the ACP States and the DOMs and the OCTs should be maintained but there should be additional resources for extending regional cooperation to these territories.
- Methods and Procedures
Discussions on the subject would be pursued after the Council but the ACP side had already pressed for the participation of ACP States in programming. This would provide a framework for an effective exchange of views between the two parties.
- Services
Both sides had submitted proposals which were being studied with a view to preparing key sentences.
- Intra-ACP Cooperation
The ACP side had proposed the setting up of an intra-ACP Technical Assistance Facility and had commissioned a study on the subject which had been recently received. It would be examined in due course.
- Maritime Transport
This item would be discussed at a later stage.
In the exchange of views that followed the above presentation, Council requested that the negotiators should ensure that in the future Convention the Community respect the regional programmes and projects elaborated by the ACP countries. The Community should adhere strictly to the procedures originally agreed upon by both parties for the appraisal and implementation of regional projects. The need to streamline the procedures and render them more flexible was stressed.
Council further urged that the Community should be given a lesser role in determining the regional projects and programmes. If the Community had difficulty in accepting a project, there should be an exchange of views between the parties concerned. In this regard, ACP regional organizations should be given a greater role.
Regarding services, having recalled that the subject was being discussed in the GATT, Council advised that the ACP Group should got against any proposal that would endanger the interests of member countries. The ACP should ensure that the sovereignty of its States in preserved in all areas of trade in services. However, there should be no reciprocity, and agreement on intellectual property should not exclude the transfer of appropriate technology towards the ACP countries.
Council held the view the Community should be urged to commit itself to provide additional funds in the EDF for investment in the development of services which should include tourism, transport and communication.
With respect to maritime transport, Council expressed regret that the Community Member States have not ratified the UNCTAD Code of Conduct, a state of affairs which is the root cause of the dispute between the Ministerial Conference of West and Central African States on Maritime Transport and the Community. The Community should be called upon to respect the letter and spirit of the Lomé Convention by according preferential treatment to the ACP in respect of maritime transport and to ratify and respect the UNCTAD code on maritime transport [the 40/40/20 formula].
Regarding the current negotiations, the ACP should request a radical revision of the provisions of the Lomé III Convention to ensure that they conform with the UNCTAD code.
Finally, Council observed that most of the programmes and declarations adopted in the context of Intra-ACP Cooperation had not seen the day largely because of lack of funds. While it recognized that political will was needed to ensure their implementation, the meeting acknowledged that the inadequacy of funds was the main cause of lack of effective implementation of these programmes and declarations. Increased resources should be provided for in the next Convention to assist the ACP Group in implementing its Intra-ACP programmes and projects.
GROUP 6: Financial and Technical Cooperation, Investments, Debt and Structural Adjustment
The Ambassadorial spokesman for Group 6, H. E. Mr J.O.B. IROHA of Nigeria gave a report to Council on developments in the negotiations in his area. He indicated that little progress had been made since the 1st Ministerial Negotiating Conference. This was due to the fact that on the one hand the Community showed reticence on major ACP proposals; on the other hand, Group 6 had to rely on the outcome of discussions in other ACP Negotiating Groups in order to advance in its work.
At the end of his presentation, the spokesman recommended that:
a. Council should stick to its positions on the various issues;
b. the following subject matters could be considered priority areas in the current negotiating session:
- financial resources
- terms and conditions of financing
- debt and structural adjustment.
The following remarks were notably made during the ensuing exchange of views:
- Structural Adjustment
The ACP do not want, in the next Convention, an IMF-type conditionalities. The ACP are seeking EEC support to alleviate the effects of structural adjustment measures. The approach of the Economic Commission of Africa [ECA] should serve as a framework for the examination of this question and not as an ACP proposal.
- Debt
The ACP is of view that this matter could be discussed with the Community since Lomé III has been signed both with the EEC and individual EEC States and since some debts are generated as a result of ACP-EEC programmes or projects [EDF, EIB, etc..]. The Community should be invited to emulate Toronto and Dakar examples and therefore requested to make substantial efforts vis-à-vis the ACP: e.g. transform EEC loans into risk capital, EIB loans to be created in the framework of the Toronto recommendations, etc.. Some concrete measures should also be envisaged for the middle-income ACP countries.
- Volume of aid
Council should request the Community during this session either to indicate to the ACP, the EEC criteria for determining the volume of aid, or pronounce itself on the criteria submitted by the ACP.
- Protocol VI of Lomé III on Tax and Customs arrangements
Council is requested to consider adapting this Protocol - signed in 1979 [Lomé II] and kept unchanged in Lomé III - to the present realities of ACP countries. Council could decide in principle to call a joint meeting of experts after the negotiations on this issue. Their recommendations would subsequently be submitted, through the Committee of Ambassadors to Council.
- Local Counterpart Funds
Council is requested to mandate ACP Negotiating Group 6 to submit to the EEC, a proposal asking the Community to take charge of the local counterpart funds.
- Coordination between ACP Negotiating Groups
Council took note that measures had been taken to ensure adequate coordination between the various ACP Negotiating Groups.
- General Provisions in the Objectives
Assurances were given to Council that the text of Article 185 in the Joint Report [page 104] was not final but constituted a series of key sentences.
Council, in addition to the above remarks, suggested ways and means of improving the implementation of the financial and technical cooperation provisions of the Convention.
GROUP 7 : Cultural Cooperation, Environment, Health, Population. Participation of the population, Women, Education and Training, Scientific
and Technical Cooperation, Refugees, Displaced Persons and Returnees, Students and Migrant Workers. Restitution of Cultural Goods [Joint
Report ACP-CEE 2137/89 (pages 117 - 145): ACP Report ACP/00/331/89 (pages 41 - 44)]
H. E. Mr Raymond CHASLE of Ambassador of Mauritius, Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors and spokesman of negotiating group 7, apprised Council on developments in the negotiations in this area. He dwelt in particular on matters relating to the audio-vidual and to the institutionalization of the Foundation for ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation.
Council accepted the principle of institutionalization of the Foundation and mandated the Committee to finalize its structure.
GROUP 8: Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Countries [Joint Report : ACP-CEE 2137/89 (pages 146 - 152) : ACP Report
ACP/00/331/90 (pages 45 - 49)]
After the presentation of the report on the progress in the negotiations by the Ambassadorial spokesman, H. E. Mr K. TAVOLA of Fiji, Council notably made the following major remarks during the exchange of views:
- Suppression of Local Counterpart Funds
It was suggested that this requirement in the implementation of projects be removed for the least developed countries.
- Special Fund
Council was invited to insist on the ACP proposal relating to the creation of a Special Fund for the Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Countries [LDLICs].
- Monitoring Committee
The setting up of such a Committee for the follow-up of LDLIC implementation measures was suggested.
- Landlocked Countries
It was proposed that the criteria for the realization of projects [e.g. road construction] in landlocked countries should be less rigid. Council was also requested to bear in mind, for the future, the situation of "semi-landlocked" countries such as Sudan and Zaire.
The report on the ACP Sugar Ministerial consultations was presented to Council by the ACP Sugar Ministerial Spokesman, Hon. M. DULLOO, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and National Resources of Mauritius. The report is contained in document ACP/63/016/89. Minister DULLOO also informed Council that the ACP Sugar Group would submit a draft resolution to the present Council session.
Interventions subsequently centred on:
- the manner in which the Community implemented the provision of the Protocol on Sugar, often in total disregard for the concerns of the ACP States signatory to that Protocol, and at times interpreting those provisions to the detriment of the ACP States;
- the applications by Zambia and Papua New Guinea to accede to the Sugar Protocol and the assurances by these two countries to strictly abide an agreement which would govern their accession.
Finally, Minister DULLOO urged all ACP sugar producing States to make, as early as possible, representations, at the highest political level to the Community Member States before the EEC Agricultural Ministers meet to give mandate to the Commission to negotiate with the ACP the guaranteed price for 1988/89 and 1989/90 delivery period.
b. Article 193 Committee [ACP/023/89 Rev.3]
H. E. Dr. Z.T. ONYONKA, Minister of Planning and National Development of Kenya, presented to Council the Report of the Article 193 Committee [Doc. ACP/81/023/89 Rev.3]
After a lengthy exchange of views, Council
a. agreed to take note of the report;
b. rejected recommendations b, c, d, e and f on page 5, paragraph 4 of the said report;
c. remitted the subject to the Committee of Ambassadors for further consideration before submission to the next meeting of the Article 193 Committee and then to the Council.
Earlier, Council had corrected, on page 4, last paragraph of the report, "30th June 1989" to read "30th June 1988."
c. Article 47 Committee [ACP/67/013/89 Rev.2]
The Chairman of the ACP Article 47 Ministerial Committee, Hon. Abbey KAFUMBE-MUSASE, Deputy Minister of Finance of Uganda, informed Council of the outcome of the third meeting of the above Committee held on 30th May 1989 [see ACP/67/013/89 Rev.2 for detail].
The presentation of the report was followed by brief exchange of views.
At the end of the proceedings, Council adjourned after agreeing to resume the session on Saturday 3rd June, from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
CONTINUATION OF THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE 47TH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF ACP MINISTERS
[held on Saturday, 3rd June 1989 from 9.30 a.m. to 11. a.m. and Monday 5th June at 4 p.m. at ACP House]
The Session was called to order by RATU SIR KAMISESE MARA, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Fiji and President-in-Office of the ACP Council of Ministers.
1. Adoption of the agenda [ACP/25/020/89]
Council adopted the draft agenda as contained in document ACP/25/020/89.
2. Communication from the President
Through the communication from the President, the Head of delegation of Ghana speaking on behalf of his government, told Council that his country was proposing and supporting the candidature of H. E. Mr Victor GBEHO, a Ghanian national, to the post of Managing Director of the Common Fund. The Head of delegation gave details of the Curriculum Vitae of the candidate. He requested Council to support the candidature of the ACP national.
Council took note of the communication.
3. Final arrangements for the Negotiations
After spelling out the details of the programme of the Ministerial Conference on Negotiations, the President presented the proposed ministerial structures for the negotiations [see document ACP/00/327/89].
Council took note of the programme and endorsed the proposed Ministerial Negotiating Structures.
4. ACP Secretariat's questions relating to:
a. the financial situation [ACP/45/020/89]
Having recalled the previous appeals, discussions and decisions of Council on the subject of contribution to the Secretariat's budget, the President appealed, once again, for a positive response from ACP States in arrears of contributions in order to avoid sanctions.
The Session took note of the appeal.
b. the Council mandated regarding the structure and functioning of the Secretariat
Introducing the subject, the Secretary General recalled Council decision in Mauritius, which requested, inter alia, the Secretary General in consultation with the Staff Association to agree on terms of reference for a study to be commissioned by the Secretary on its structures and functioning.
He said agreement had been reached on the terms and reference of the study and the Secretariat contacted the UN for assistance, which organization had in turn sought assistance from UNDP. Assistance had been obtained and the two consultants, Barbadian and French, started work in mid-May and were expected to complete their assignment by end of June.
Concluding, the Secretary General explained that the delay in implementing the decision of Council resulted from the fact that the Secretariat spent sometime seeking for funds. These were available after the deadline set by the mandate for the submission of the study had expired.
Council took note of the Secretary General's report and commended the Secretariat for having found funds for implementing the decision on commissioning a study on the structure and functioning of the said institution.
5. Outcome of the 47th ACP Council
- draft decisions and resolutions [ACP/25/019/89]
Council considered and adopted decisions on the following subjects:
- Request by the UN Council for Namibia for observer status at ACP meeting;
- Financial situation of the Secretariat and recovery of arrears;
- Venue of the signing of the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention.
Council considered and adopted a resolution on each of the following subjects:
- Sugar
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- request by Mauritius for derogation from the Rules of Origin: canned tuna
- Request by Mauritania for inclusion of octopus and cuttlefish in the Stabex system
- Granting of All Destinations Derogation" [Article 150 (3)]
- Method of calculating Stabex transfers
- Inclusion of live bovine, sheep and goats in the Stabex scheme
- Institutionalization of the Foundation of ACP-EEC Cultural Cooperation; and
- Reconvening of the meeting of the ACP-EEC Foreign Ministers on the situation in South and Southern Africa.
Council remitted to the Committee of Ambassadors for finalization the following draft resolutions:
- Transfers under 1980, 1981, 1987 and 1988 years of application;
- Bananas [The resolution on Bananas had to be referred to the Committee of Ambassadors for finalization because at the time of the consideration of the resolutions by Council, it existed only in one language];
- Establishment of mechanisms for effective implementation of Lomé IV Convention.
- preliminary draft Summary Record of the 47th Meeting of the Council of Ministers [ACP/25/021/89]
Council took note of the preliminary draft summary record of its deliberations and requested the Committee to finalize it for consideration and adoption at the next Council meeting.
6. Designation of the next Ministerial Bureau
The region of West Africa designated Sierra Leone as its representative on the new Bureau of Council. Council endorsed the designation and urged other regions to expedite the nomination of their representatives in the new Ministerial Bureau(2).
7. Date and venue of the next meeting of the Council of ACP Ministers
Council noted the proposals by the Community side that the Ministerial Conference on Negotiations should be held on 9th, 10th and 11th October 1989, in Luxembourg.
Council agreed to hold its session on 5th, 6th and 7th October at ACP House, Brussels.
8. Any other business
The Minister from Senegal, H. E. Mr S.O. SY, Minister of Trade, told the President that it was a great honour and pleasure for the members of the Ministerial Bureau to have served as Vice-Presidents during his Presidency. The President-in-Office had served the ACP Group since 24 July 1973. During that period, each time he presided over a Council meeting it was done with the greatest wisdom. The President's country, Fiji, held the record of the number of Council meetings [including ACP-EEC Council] hosted by ACP countries. This was because of the President's personal commitment and his country's devotion to the ACP cause. If the ACP Group had any decoration for outstanding services rendered, RATU SIR KAMISESE MARA should be the first to be honoured with that distinction.
On behalf of the Bureau and all delegations, the Minister thanked the President for the very able manner in which he presided over the deliberations of both the ACP and ACP-EEC Council Meetings.
In his concluding remarks, the President assessed the various Council meetings, observing that the ACP negotiators did their best to achieve the results registered. For that, he thanked them and all the members of the Bureau who assisted him in the discharge of his functions. He also thanked all delegations for their cooperation and useful contributions to the various deliberations of the Council.
Further, the President thanked the Committee of Ambassadors for having provided Council with basic working documents, and the Secretariat for its support services.
Finally, the President wished delegates a safe return to their various destinations.
ANNEX I
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE ACP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, RATU SIR KAMISESE MARA,
OFFICIALLY OPENING THE 47TH SESSION OF THE ACP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING,
TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1989
Honourable Ministers,
Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors,
Secretary General,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my particular pleasure to extend to you a very warm and hearty welcome to this Forty Seven Session of the Council of Ministers of the ACP Group of Countries.
I also wish to extend a special welcome to the Representatives of our ACP Regional Organizations and to the Representatives of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
My dear Colleagues, as I contemplate the raison d'être for our meetings over the years and over the next few days, I cannot help but reflect profoundly that though we are separated by oceans and great distances, that though we differ in language and in culture, we are united in a common bond and in our efforts to advance and achieve our goals and objectives.
Our countries and our Governments are joined in a common endeavour to promote and foster Economic and Social Progress in our nations and to stimulate improved living standards for our peoples.
And it is in that Nobel pursuit that we have been meeting as a Council over the yeas and will be meeting over the next few days. It is to that noble task that we have a superlative commitment to do the best we can do for our countries and for our peoples.
This meeting, like the others that precede it, is an integral part of our philosophy and strategy to prepare the way for our Joint Negotiations with our Ministerial Colleagues from European Economic Community.
The issues before us need no repetition. They are all too familiar to you. They are also completely documented in the agenda papers which you have in your possession. I do not therefore propose to speak to you on them in my opening remarks. You will also have every opportunity to examine and discuss them thoroughly during the concourse of our meeting.
Permit me nevertheless to attempt a summary by suggesting that we have three main tasks to pursue at this meeting.
The first is to examine our own internal ACP affairs and activities in respect of Intra-ACP Cooperation.
The second is to examine the statusquo of the implementation of the Lomé III Convention and prepare for the ACP-EEC Council Meeting.
And the third is to examine the state of progress of the Negotiations for Lomé IV and prepare for the Second ACP-EEC Ministerial Negotiations Conference.
As we proceed through discussion and debate on the preparations to enhance and advance our goals and objectives, we must recognise that we may disagree in order to agree and that at the end of it all, we must emerge united and stronger as a Group.
We have a very tight schedule of meetings ahead of us and I therefore need hardly remind you all that time is of the essence.
I recognise that the regions of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are noted for their gifted orators but let us hone that oratorical talent as best we can so that it contributes to the successful conclusion of our meetings within the scheduled timeframe.
There is one specific matter that I would like to advert to in these opening remarks and that matter concerns the financial position of our own Secretariat.
Honourable Ministers, as I understand it and as the documents so indicate, the financial situation of the Secretariat, according to the parlance of a colleague of mine, has reached "a low height".
This has been mainly due to the fact that several Member States are in arrears and some have been so for a number of years. this situation has placed the efficient and effective functioning of the Secretariat, of our Secretary, in jeopardy.
I mentioned this at the Ministerial Bureau Meeting yesterday and I wish to take this opportunity to appeal to you Honourable Ministers to use your good offices to facilitate the payment of all outstanding contributions by Member States concerned.
The good news is that among our many activities this week will be a function to mark and observe the Fourteen Anniversary of the Founding of our Group.
I entreat you all to give you full support to the occasion by your presence. It is our function so let us show by example, by your presence, the solidarity of our Group. May I also submit that the occasion will provide a unique opportunity to recommit and rededicate ourselves to the task ahead of us.
Finally, on your behalf, I would like to commend the Committee of Ambassadors and the Staff of the Secretariat for the volume of work they have accomplished in arranging these meeting and in the documentation that has been provided.
And now, as we are about to proceed with our task, I enjoin you all to let us do so in cooperation and with unity of purpose. Let us work hand in hand so that we can make this meeting constructive and productive.
Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare open this Forty Seventh Session of the Council of Ministers of the ACP Group of Countries.
Thank you very much.
1. The intervention of the Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors was supplemented in some areas by a submission by a Subcommittee Chairman.
2. Subsequently, the following Bureau Members were designated:
- Central Africa : CAMEROON
- East Africa : ETHIOPIA
- Southern Africa : LESOTHO (Chairman)
- Caribbean : BELIZE
- Pacific : Papua New Guinea