Pacific Grateful To Host ACP Summit: PM

The people of the Pacific are grateful to be hosting the 3rd African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Heads of State and Leaders Summit, said Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, during the opening of the Summit at Denarau Nadi, this morning.

“We are the smallest of our group in population. Indeed, some of our Pacific States are among the smallest in the world.

“Like so many of the ACP countries, we do not have monetary wealth.

“We struggle to develop our economies and to come to grips with wrenching, inexorable change.

“We must reconcile our traditions and culture with the onrush of modern systems of trade, government and mass materialism.”

Mr. Qarase said the beating and rhythm of the Lali sends out a message to the world. Seventy-eight nations are saying:

“We are concerned for planet Earth. We see and experience its troubles and its turmoil. It is a time of crisis, of great tension and threats, of suffering and of fear.

“Our people carry a large part of the earth's burdens. We have come together in Fiji for their sake and for the sake of the world. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fashion a new order of economic and social justice.

“We seek an end to war, to poverty and disease. We want to make it possible for the distressed millions to have decent jobs, better shelter, enough food and education for themselves and their children.

“We would like the riches of the world to be spread with fairness, so that the dangerous gulf between the North and South is removed and the family of humankind becomes closer.

“We wish to protect this Earth and its natural resources from wanton depredation and destruction, threatening the very environment, which supports us.”

“The drumbeat is insistent and it will not be silenced,” Mr. Qarase said.

“It has called us to this Third Summit of the ACP.

“ In the next two days, we must concentrate our minds on some of the most complex issues of our times and make decisions, which alter history.”