Brussels, 01/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - Anicet Georges Dologuele, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic and acting President of the ACP Council of Ministers will head a mission by the ACP group to Cuba and the Dominican Republic from the 3 to 5 August. The main aim of the mission to Cuba - country that has the observer status with the ACP group and wants to become a full member - is to assess the situation since the withdrawal of Cuba's candidacy to the new ACP/EU partnership agreement (see EUROPE of 23 June, p.5) and, if possible, to favour the political dialogue between the Cuban authorities and the EU.
The postponement until 5 August for the courtesy visit to the Dominican Republic to meet President Leonel Fernandez before the end of his mandate at the Presidency of the ACP summit. Other than Mr Dologuele, the ACP delegation will include the acting Council President, John Horne (Trade Minister for St Vincent and Grenadines), the President of the Ambassadors Committee, Armand Guy Zouguere-Sokambi (Central African Republic) and his predecessor Mrs Yolette Azor-Charles (Haiti) and the Secretary General of the ACP group, Jean-Robert Goulongana (Gabon).