(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Yesterday, Suriname and the other 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries forged a common economic strategy to act as one towards Europe. “We are hopeful that the talks with Europe will be fruitful,” says Mohammed Abdullahi Guylaye, acting head of the ACP commission for Economic Development, Trade and Finance. “We have traveled thousands of miles to come to Suriname for these talks. And we are hopeful that progress will be made. We can share our views freely amongst ourselves, and we have done so today. Now we have reached consensus for the talks,” Guylaye states.
The ACP countries have based their strategy on five issues. Firstly, they will attempt to sign a resolution with the EU for technical and financial assistance in the area of communication and technology for their private sectors. The new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the ACP blocks and Europe are still a bone of contention. Only the Caribbean region has reached an agreement with the former colonial rulers so far. The process is at a standstill at the national level, however. Suriname still has not ratified the agreement. The issue of preferential treatment for ACP products to protect them against heavy competition is still a source of conflict as well. “Development and excessive debts do not go together,” says Guylaye, referring to forgiveness of debts, the fourth important issue. Cotton and sugar, the most important products of African countries in particular, have been placed on the economic agenda as well.
