General Secretariat of the ACP Group

Brussels, 12 June 2003

ACP Group strongly condemns the attempted coup d’Etat in Mauritania

The ACP Group firmly condemns the attempt to overthrow the legitimate and democratically-elected government of the President of Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya. It commends the demonstrations against the coup by the Mauritania people whose actions clearly demonstrated their commitment to democracy.

The ACP Group takes this opportunity to reiterate its condemnation of all and any attempt to overthrow elected governments by force, and any justification of such denial of democracy.

The ACP Group assures the government and people of Mauritania of its support, and invites the people of the West African region to continue to support Mauritania so as to discourage any attempt to erode its democratic system and its will to fight extremist tendencies.