ACP GENERAL SECRETARIAT

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 12 June 2003

The ACP Group views the organisation and conclusions of the ACP-EC consultations on the political situation in the Central African Republic in a positive light

The ACP Group holds a very positive view of the organisation and conclusions of the first consultations on the political situation in the Central African Republic which was held in Brussels on 12 June 2003. The consultations which were organised in the framework for political dialogue as provided for in the Cotonou Agreement, were requested by the European side following the coup d’Etat in the Central African Republic on 15 March 2003.

The Central African delegation led by the Prime Minister, Hon. Abel GOUMBA, informed representatives of the Commission and European Union Member-States of the context in which the events of 15 March occurred. It also assured them of its willingness to quickly restore Central Africa to constitutional rule, and presented a programme of actions designed to culminate in presidential elections at the beginning of 2005.

In concluding the meeting, the European Union noted, with satisfaction, the Central African Government’s commitments in relation to restoring constitutional rule, maintaining political pluralism, reconstituting the defence and security forces, managing state finances, fighting corruption, as well as its responsibilities relating to sovereign state expenditure, principal among them, the regular payment of salaries. The parties agreed to set up a follow-up committee to monitor implementation of the commitments undertaken by the Central African Government.

A three-month period was established for the consultations, to be followed by an evaluation of the implementation of undertakings, which will determine the European Union’s position on cooperation with the Central African Republic.

The ACP-EC consultations on the Central African Republic were preceded by a special meeting of the Political Affairs Subcommittee of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors at which the ACP Ambassadors reiterated their condemnation of the coup d’Etat of 15 March 2003 while noting the willingness of the Central African authorities to quickly restore a system of constitutional rule.