ACP conference to be held next December in Sudan
Aug 22, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of states, Sir John Kaputin, has expressed satisfaction over progress of the preparation for the summit conference of the Group, scheduled to be convened in Khartoum on 4th-10th of next December.
The Secretary General of the ACP group told the state-run SUNA he is very pleased that the preparations for the summit are going well and that the government has set up the mechanisms to deal with the preparations for the summit conference.
The ACP Secretary General said on the sidelines of the 8th regional negotiations forum of East and Southern Africa, which is currently being held at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, that he met during his visit to Sudan with a number of Sudanese government officials and discussed with them preparations for the summit and current political developments in Sudan, referring to his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol.
Replying to a question on the political and economic objectives of the coming summit of the ACP Group of states in Khartoum, especially that Sudan, which is to host the summit, possesses huge economic resources, Secretary General Sir John Kaputin pointed out that of course Sudan is very rich in resources and needs environment of political stability to pave the way for economic development.
All these are aspects in the political process that would enable Sudan enter into its development aspects, he said, adding that from what he has seen of the situations during the last few days one can see definite movement in this area.
The African, Caribbean and Pacific group was formed following appearance of concern about the North-South Dialogue and how developed countries can assist with the development aspects of the developing countries instead of the method adopted by individual European countries at that time.
Then the European countries decided at that time to combine their efforts in dealing with the question of development. And, so it grew from that what was led to a series of agreements between the EU and ACP, including Lome Convention I, Lome II, Lome III and Lome IV. They were replaced in 2000 by the Cotonou partnership agreement. Now it has a membership of 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific.
(ST)