Closing Remarks at the Third ACP Leaders’ Summit
Denarau, Friday, 19th July, 2002

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Dear Colleagues and friends in the ACP

We have now come to the close of our meeting. All the common positions we have taken during our Summit deliberations are recorded in the Nadi Declaration and its annexed Decisions.

I take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your contribution and co-operation.

Our discussions and agreement have covered a wide range of issues. The decisions and positions we have collectively taken will, I hope, guide and assist our Council of Ministers and Committee of Ambassadors.

I should like to convey our deep thanks to these two very important consultative bodies of the ACP in their excellent preparatory work for our Summit. This has greatly facilitated our discussions and agreement.

I express our sincere gratitude to our very hard working Secretary-General and members of his Secretariat.

Our Council of Ministers, with the support of our Committee of Ambassadors, will spearhead our negotiations with the European Union on future Economic Partnership Agreements.

The role of our Summit of Leaders’ is to stand as a backstop to these negotiations, ready to intervene for the ACP at the highest political level. This is to ensure that the outcome is in the best interests of our countries and peoples. And this outcome is to help us deal effectively with eradicating poverty in our countries. It is also to enable us to create increased opportunities for our young people to develop their God-given talents and live healthy and fulfilling lives.

It is my fervent hope that the solidarity we have formed in the ACP will also inspire us to work together and take common positions in other international forums, including especially the WTO negotiations, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

I again express to each of you the gratitude of the Government and people of Fiji for gracing our country in coming to this meeting. It has been our honour to be your host. If the welcome, courtesies and hospitality we have provided have not met yet your expectations, please accept my apologies. But I do make a promise that we shall do better next time!

As you prepare to return to your country, the best way I can articulate our feelings for you is to quote the words of our national farewell song. The song is called Isa Lei and this is what it says:

“We are sad to see you leave. All we ask is that when you depart from our shores, you will remember us and not forget the good times we enjoyed together. And when you arrive safely home, do think of us, and if the opportunity arises, you are always welcome to return.

With these words, I bid you farewell, bon voyage and Ni Sa Moce.
But before I close the meeting, I will now ask the Fiji Delegation to sing Isa Lei.

(Fiji Delegation sings)

Our Meeting is now closed. May God protect you and guide you safely home.