PM Confident Of Role As ACP President

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase today said he is confident of carrying out his responsibilities as the President of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group, despite it being a heavy responsibility.

“The ACP region is quite big with 78 countries being part of it, but I am confident of carrying out my responsibility with the expert assistance of the ACP secretariat in Brussels, the Fiji mission in Brussels and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade here in Fiji.

“There is a great deal of solidarity and unity within the ACP group and I can only build on this,” Mr. Qarase said.

“I will promote this solidarity and express the united views of the ACP group in international forums.”

Mr. Qarase said the organization and coordination of the 3rd ACP Summit of Leaders and Heads of State at Sheraton Fiji is going well.

“Although we expected hiccups when hosting a meeting of this magnitude, the hiccups encountered so far have been fairly minor,” Mr. Qarase said.

“Everything is going well and I am looking forward for the start of the Summit proper tomorrow.”

Mr. Qarase added that the next two days should be successful.