Brussels March 1, 2023: The Head of the Liberian Delegation to the 62nd Session of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Parliament, Hon. Acarous Gray is calling on his colleagues to act within the framework of their Authority.
According to the Press Bureau of the House of Representatives a dispatch from Brussels says Hon. Gray took part in discussions at the OACPS headquarters, which covered issues of strategic focus that range from partnership within member states and their links with the European Union, expansion of its partnership and visibility within the global framework, food and energy crisis, Maritime Security, climate change and current global issues.
Parliamentarians from member states of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific are participating in the 62nd Session of OACPS Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels.
The Legislature of the Republic of Liberia is represented by Montserrado County Electoral District 8 Representative, Hon. Acarous M. Gray who is actively engaged in a week long session aimed at addressing pertinent International and regional matters.
During the opening session, Hon. Ana Rita Sithole, a member of the Mozambique Parliament and the current President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly, provided an opening statement highlighting the State of play on many challenges faced by OACPS Countries as well as some unresolved issues regarding the signing of the Post-Cotonou Agreement with the European. He further restated his commitment to improve the visibility of the Parliamentary Assembly, and strengthen the organ and create alliances with key strategic assemblies.
Taking the floor during these deliberations, Liberia’s representative Hon Acarous M. Gray thanked the Chair of the ACP working group on the Post Contou Hon. Joseph Owona Kono and H.E Robert Dussey, Chief Negotiator of the OACPS-EU Partnership Agreement. He furthered called on his colleagues to act within the framework of their authority and that deliberation on major political issues of global and regional concerns that are cardinal to the forward match of the OACPS Countries relationship with the European Union must be based on promoting good governance, sovereignty and the separation of domestic structure for the purpose of achieving a Win-Win cooperation.
The Liberia Delegation included, Head of Liberia’s Hon Acarous M. Gray, Senve Darlington Tehmeh, Minister Counselor Press and Public Affairs -Alternate Representative OACPS) and Madam Harriette M. Thomas, 1st Secretary/ Consul.
About the Cotonou Agreement
The current relationship with ACP countries is governed by the ACP-EU partnership agreement (2000), also known as the Cotonou Agreement, which unites over 100 partner countries and some 1.5 billion people. It is the most comprehensive partnership agreement ever signed between the EU and third countries.
The Cotonou Agreement was initially built on the following principles: partners’ equality, global participation dialogue to adjust to new challenges, the agreement was revised in 2005 and 2010 to add focus on: regional integration, security and political stability, the growing challenge of climate change, inclusiveness and sustainability aid effectiveness.
