Brussels, 28/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The fifth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states (ACP), linked to the EU through the Cotonou Agreement, will take place in Khartoum (Sudan) on 7-8 December. Khartoum was provisionally selected as the venue at the previous Summit (in Maputo, Mozambique in June 2004), in response to the invitation from Sudan, the only country to offer to host this high level meeting. The hope at the time was that this would encourage progress in the overall peace process, and in Darfur in particular, ACP heads of state and government said. And it was in the same spirit that the decision was endorsed by the ACP Council of Ministers in December 2005.
The renewed violence which has claimed many lives in Darfur despite the peace agreement signed in Abuja (Nigeria) in May, and Khartoum's delays and time-wasting over the conditions under which a possible UN-African Union intervention force would operate, after categorically refusing to accept a UN peace force on its territory, demonstrate that the hoped for progress has not come about. Worse, after three years of fighting which has cost 200,000 lives and displaced two million people, the international community is now witnessing, powerless, the spread of the conflict to neighbouring Chad and the destabilisation of Central Africa.
It is against this background, that the full significance of the theme of the ACP conference, “United for peace, solidarity and sustainable development” becomes apparent. ACP heads of state and government will discuss the situation in six ACP regions from the point of view of peace, security and stability. The Summit will also examine the mechanisms for strengthening intra-ACP cooperation and draw up guidelines.
It will also take stock of progress in negotiations on economic partnership agreements between the EU and six ACP regions: these negotiations are at a crucial stage, but are deadlocked one year from the 1st January 2008 deadline for coming into force. Guidelines at the highest level will be given for the pursuit of this laborious process, which is currently being reviewed.
Following the reflections by ACP ambassadors and ministers, the heads of state and government will carefully consider the future of the ACP group. The aim is to reposition the ACP group in the face of the new world order and the major changes of European Union policy.
On the sidelines of the Summit, there will be a business forum on 6 December, to allow companies from developed and ACP countries to meet and forge new partnerships.
The fifth Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government will be preceded, on 3-4 December, by the 84th session of the ACP Council of Ministers, and the joint meeting of the Council of Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, scheduled for 5-6 December. (an)