Africa-Press – Lesotho. MASERU -The 18th Regional Meeting in Southern Africa for the African Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) joint Parliamentary conference was officially
opened in Maseru on Thursday. The three day conference for lawmakers was opened by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Sephiri Motanyane. He hailed the
conference as an “opportunity to exchange ideas and views to foster parliamentary diplomacy. ” Being Lesotho’s first hosting opportunity for this the conference, he said “it is fitting that ACP-EU
has chosen to hold its regional meeting in Lesotho during the time when the country is carrying out the National Reforms,” pointing out that reforms will
also “enhance parliament by improving its autonomy such that Lesotho is at par with its counterparts. ” Motanyane further applauded EU’s efforts, making mention of Lesotho’s funded projects such as governance
issues, water, and energy as well as “strengthening” oversight institutions for them to effectively carry out the mandate. “Resolutions which will come out of this forum should be binding to Lesotho,” he concluded his
remarks. The Co-President of the ACP-EU, Hon. Joseph Owona Kono said the organ affords an opportunity to ‘interrogate’ the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement (an agreement signed in Benin in
2000 which concerns the ACP member states on ‘eradication’ and ‘reduction’ of poverty and to see that these states are introduced into the world economy). Kono went on to urge
his colleagues to ‘support this call’ as he said the organization is ‘dynamic’ and has the international presence. “Through EU parliamentarians, we hope to get the message passed to the EU and the countries
they represent,” he emphasized. Addressing the media at the sidelines of the conference Hon. Samuel Rapapa said such conferences as this one have borne EU sponsored projects, citing Metolong Dam as an example of
some of those sponsored projects. The EU will also fund the construction of a proposed dam in Hlotse. Also present at this ceremony was EU Head of Delegation to Lesotho Dr Christian Manahl.
