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

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-         Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

-         Hon. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Co- President Joint ACP-EC Council of Ministers

-         Sir John Kaputin, Secretary-General of the ACP Group

-         Honourable Members of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

-         Excellencies

-         Distinguished Guests

-         Ladies and Gentlemen

At the outset allow me, on behalf of the ACP Group of States, my country Lesotho, which currently holds the Presidency of the ACP Council of Ministers, and on my own behalf, to congratulate you Co-President, for your sterling leadership in guiding this distinguished Assembly.  Your inspiration and focus in steering the ship of this Assembly are a source of pride to us all.

Allow me also, to thank the ACP Group for affording me this rare opportunity, to address this august Assembly on their behalf.  Indeed, I feel greatly honoured. I wish therefore, to express our profound gratitude to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany, for the warm and generous hospitality accorded us since our arrival in this beautiful city of Wiesbaden.  

Co-Presidents

I must express a sense of privilege, to be able to address this Assembly in Germany, a country which has a long history of supporting the development of ACP States.  As testimony to this, Germany during its current Presidency of the European Union and Chair of the G-8 has hosted a number of important international conferences and meetings focusing on development issues that are of great relevance to the ACP Group. These include: the German-World Bank Forum; the Africa Partnership Forum; the International Conference on Value Chains for Development, and the Bonn Dialogue between ACP Ministers responsible for the Economic Partnership Agreements and the EU Ministers for Development Cooperation.

We note with great appreciation, that during these meetings, a number of critical decisions were made on issues of development especially with respect to measures targeted at poverty eradication and sustainable development of our economies. The apex of these meetings was indeed the G8 Summit, which took place in Heiligendamm, earlier this month.  I am encouraged by the reassurance of my Co-President Honourable Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul that, in her capacity as Minister for Development Cooperation of Germany, she will ensure that her country's commitments are fully honoured.

As was clearly alluded by the Co-President in her opening address, the Heiligendamm Summit was an opportunity for leaders of the world’s richest countries, to take stock of the ambitious promises and initiatives that were agreed at the previous G8 Summits, and in particular, the Gleneagles Summit of July 2005. While we acknowledge that there is "no size fits all solution" to the challenges faced by the developing countries, we believe that the Heiligendamm Summit was a tacit acknowledgment, that developed countries need to do much more than they have in the past, to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor of our world. Renewed and enhanced commitments for Africa and the special emphasis on measures to address climate change are of great significance to the ACP Group and to our cooperation with the European Union.

Co-Presidents

We wish to express our appreciation for the continued efforts made by the developed countries and International Financial Institutions to address the needs of developing countries through a number of measures including debt cancellation under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives.  Through these initiatives, development resources are being freed from the obligation of debt servicing and are directed towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  In this regard, I wish to underscore the statement made by the Co-president of the JPA, Madam Glennys Kinnock yesterday on the benefits of the debt cancellation to the beneficiaries.

We wish to appeal to our cooperating partners to review the criteria for debt cancellation so that it is extended to all Least Developed Countries, to enable them to achieve the MDGs. The fact that some of these countries are able to service their debt efficiently should not be used to their disadvantage. 

Co-Presidents

It is common cause that peace and stability are the lynchpins for sustainable development and growth, as alluded to by ACP JPA Co-President, in his opening statement. In this regard, we acknowledge with appreciation the support that the European Union has and continues to provide to the ACP countries, through a number of instruments, in particular the African Peace Facility. 

However, let me hasten to indicate that as long as there are conflicts, the much needed development resources will continue to be diverted to peacekeeping and peace-building efforts at the expense of development.  The challenge therefore, that faces Africa is to pull herself by her bootstraps from the debilitating conflicts and wars that have bedeviled her for years.

It is therefore, incumbent upon us all to protect and maintain peace at every opportunity in our respective countries, regions and indeed the world at large. Our commitment and success to sustain peace will allow us the much needed policy space and resources to fully engage each other in achieving the internationally agreed development goals including the Millennium Development Goals.

Co-Presidents

Honourable Members

May I with some regret, reiterate the deep concern expressed by the ACP JPA Co-President at yesterday's opening session over the slow pace of ratification of the revised ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, which was signed in June 2005.  We learned that as of 14 June 2007, only 13 ACP States and 9 European Union Member States had ratified the Agreement.

I should emphasize that the ratification of the Agreement has implications for availability of resources of the 10^th European Development Fund (EDF), which should become available on 01 January 2008 on condition that all EU Member States and two thirds of the ACP States ratify the revised Cotonou Agreement. 

I wish therefore to appeal to the Members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly to complement efforts of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers and to facilitate ratification at the earliest opportunity.  To this end, Honourable Members, I urge you, upon your return to your respective countries, to make the ratification of the revised Cotonou Agreement the number one priority – we need an uninterrupted flow of financial resources to continue to walk the long road to development and achieve the MDGs. 

Co-Presidents

It is important to note that the ACP States have collectively made a political commitment to negotiate in good faith and conclude the EPA Negotiations by 31^st December, 2007. Underlying that commitment is the understanding that the European Commission will be forthcoming with respect to the development chapters of the EPAs, while both sides strive to resolve other technical aspects of these Agreements.

In this regard, allow me to remind our Partners, the EU Member States, of their commitment at the Bonn Dialogue that there should be a dedicated chapter on the Development Dimension of the EPAs, and on the immediate provision of additional resources through the Aid-for-Trade window. On the Bonn Dialogue, let me express our gratitude to Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul for facilitating the dialogue between the EU Ministers for Development Cooperation and their ACP counterparts.

Allow me also to draw your attention to the fact that while we continue to negotiate, we need to take cognizance of the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement, especially Article 34 (3) which reads:

“To this end economic and trade cooperation shall aim at enhancing the production, supply and trading capacity of the ACP countries as well as their capacity to attract investments ... and at improving ACP capacity to handle all issues related to trade.”

It is therefore critical that resources are made available, so that as we prepare to conclude and implement these Agreements, we strive to enhance our capacity to trade ahead of the eventual opening of our markets to European products under the EPA arrangements.  Let me, in this regard also reiterate the guiding principle that no ACP Member State shall be made worse-off due to the implementation of the EPAs. 

Furthermore, let us all acknowledge the difficulties and complexities of these negotiations, the lack of capacity in the ACP Countries, time limitations, and the legitimate fears ACP countries have on the future of their economies.  

Co- Presidents

I wish to reassure you that the ACP Group continues to maintain collective scrutiny and oversight over these negotiations.  The ACP Ministerial Trade Committee and the Joint ACP-EC Ministerial Trade Committee met again early this year to consider, inter alia, progress in the negotiations.  Their recommendations were subsequently considered by the ACP Council and the Joint ACP-EC Council sessions in May 2007.  The Council sessions also considered and took respective decisions on the outcome of the EPA review and reaffirmed the political commitment to conclude these negotiations by 31st December 2007.

In light of these developments, I urge Members of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to continue to exercise oversight on these negotiations and to ensure that the development dimension of EPAs does not slip through our fingers as we endeavour to conclude and sign the Agreements.  Indeed, the challenge facing us is also to keep abreast of, and contribute to, the negotiations in our respective regions and at national levels. As Parliamentarians, we need to be in the fore-front of these negotiations because we cannot afford to fail.

Co-Presidents

I wish to inform you that the ACP Group, through the decision of the 5th Summit of the ACP Heads of State and Government in December 2006, launched a concerted review of the future of the ACP group.  This is with the view to explore avenues for repositioning the group in the global economic order and geopolitics. We will keep you abreast of the emerging recommendations and, as we do so, we will welcome your valuable contributions to the exercise.

Co-Presidents

Honourable Members

Excellencies

Distinguished invited guests

Allow me to conclude by recalling that this Joint Parliamentary Assembly has a clear role to play in achieving the objectives of the Cotonou Agreement. As members of Parliament we must be assertive and proactive on matters of our cooperation, and how that cooperation impacts on the development of our respective countries.  Let us always remember that we are the hope in the fight against poverty, in ensuring an equitable sharing of the world's common wealth, in contributing towards peace, stability, respect for fundamental human rights and in achievement of a better life for our peoples in our time.

I thank you for your very kind attention.