ACP Summit Reaffirms Friendship: PM

The 3rd African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group Summit of Heads of State and Leaders at Denarau Nadi, is a time for the group to again reaffirm their friendship for all the other countries in the ACP Group, in far places,” said Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase while opening the Summit this morning.

“We are at a turning point in history. Fresh alignments are taking place in international affairs.

“The political maps are being redrawn and the course is set for change. This is particularly so in trade, investment and aid.

“It is our task to ensure that change improves life for both rural and urban dwellers alike in the African Continent,” Mr. Qarase said.

“We must ensure it brings more prosperity for the ordinary people of the Caribbean, and for the islanders of the Pacific. That is why we are here.”

Mr. Qarase said the ACP is made up of countries from the developing world, whose economies have yet to become strong.

“This is our weakness. Our strength comes from unity, from the combined vision of 78 nations, speaking with one voice. It is hard to ignore a voice like that.

“We must remind ourselves always that international affairs are not necessarily warm and cosy.”

He said the richer and more powerful nations will act decisively to protect their own interests, if they have to.

“We cannot always rely on an accommodating attitude, which takes account of our problems.

“The response by the US to the special ACP Protocol on bananas is an example of this. America had no hesitation in acting against our ACP banana producers when US companies protested about the Protocol.

“Free trade, we are told, means an evening-out of the market. All nations will trade from the same basis of equality and fairness. We know that is not true.

“We accept free trade as the ideal, but there is no level playing field for the ACP. The open market is more like a steep and slippery slope for the poorer States.”

Mr. Qarase said this is why we must move carefully into an integrated system of world trade, adding that it is a matter of saving some of our industries from decimation and protecting employment.