Sudan urges solidarity among ACP countries
Dec 7, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States kicked off their fifth summit in Khartoum Thursday with a call from the Sudanese president for greater solidarity and co-operation.
“More than ever before, ACP countries need to form a strong bloc based on unity and solidarity,” Omar al-Bashir said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the two-day event.
Representatives from 76 of ACP’s 79 member states – including 16 heads of state – gathered this week in Khartoum under the slogan “United for peace, solidarity and sustainable development.”
The participants are expected to review talks over the Economic Partnership Agreements due to come into force in 2008 and remove non-reciprocal trade preferences for ACP countries in the European market.
The ACP was founded with the signature in 1975 of the Lome Convention in a bid by European countries to guarantee a steady supply of raw materials.
Bashir stressed that the new European partnerships “should be seen as a tool for development and not as a handicap.”
The summit, which is expected to wind up Friday with a “Khartoum declaration” asked for better access to European markets for ACP products and more development aid.
Bashir also said ACP countries were ready to co-operate with the EU to support democratic change, human rights and good governance.
Amid crippling economic sanctions maintained by Washington over the relentless violence in Darfur, oil-rich Sudan is seeking to raise its profile as a business hub and seek partnerships with other countries.
Analysts and officials say Khartoum is also hoping the summit will help it muster support for its position on the almost four-year-old conflict in Darfur.
Bashir stressed the importance of stability in developing economic potential and cited “the Sudanese experience” in that field.
Khartoum signed peace deals with southern rebels in January 2005 and Darfur rebels in May 2006, but persistent violence in the latter region has highlighted the agreements’ fragility.
(AFP)