Brussels, 12/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - Poul Nielson, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, will pay an official visit to the Caribbean on 14/19 October. His trip will take him to Suriname, Guyana and St Lucia, where he will underline that the main aim of the EU development policy is to foster sustainable development designed to eradicate poverty and help developing countries integrated into the world economy.
Mr Nielson will be in Suriname on 14 October and Guyana on 16 October, two of the poorest countries in the region. In Surinam, he will meet President Venetiaan, and in Guyana, President Jagdeo. In Santa Lucia on 18/19 October, Mr Nielson will be attending the EU-Cariforum annual ministerial meeting. The forum of Caribbean countries (Cariforum) brings together all 15 ACP countries in the Caribbean. This year's meeting will allow the countries to discuss elements of regional support strategy for the next five years and progress in the Caribbean's economic integration process.