Angola At Consultations Between Nation And EU

30 March 2011

Brussels — The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Manuel Augusto, attended on Tuesday in Brussels city in Belgium a consultation meeting between Guinea Bissau and European Union (EU), in the ambit of the article 96th of Cotonou Agreement.

Angop learnt that the Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (‘ACP countries’), which was signed in June 2000.

According to a press note from the Angolan embassy in the Kingdom of Belgium released to Angop on Tuesday, the meeting was aimed at hearing the delegation of Guinea Bissau about the evolution of the reform process of defence and security system, the economic and stability recovery, the normalisation of the political and social scenery in the country.

The document reads that the Guinean delegation was led by its Prime Minister, Carlos Gomes Júnior.

Manuel Augusto expressed his satisfaction at the results of the meeting, and thus these outcomes will enable the strengthening of the political, technical and financial co-operation with Guinea Bissau if this country strictly complies with the commitment assumed by the Guinean delegation.

The Cotonou Agreement wishes to give a stronger political foundation to ACP-EU development cooperation. Therefore, political dialogue is one of the key aspects of the arrangements and addresses new issues which have previously been outside the scope of development cooperation, such as peace and security, arms trade and migration.

Furthermore, the element of good governance has been included as an ‘essential element’ of the Cotonou Agreement, the violation of which may lead to the partial or complete suspension of development cooperation between the EU and the country in violation. It was furthermore agreed that serious cases of corruption, including acts of bribery, could trigger a consultation process and possibly lead to a suspension of aid.

Manuel Augusto led the national delegation that was comprised by the Angolan ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the permanent representative to the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP) and diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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