Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon. ‘Matšepo Ramakoae said Lesotho is looking forward to the new Cotonou agreement following its expiry in
2020 but has been extended to end sometime later in 2021. The Cotonou Agreement is the partnership between the EU, EU countries and the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) member states. “It
aims to reduce poverty towards its eradication, to support the sustainable economic, cultural and social development of the partner countries and to help the progressive integration of their respective economies into the world
economy. ” These transpired at the high powered Article 8 Political Dialogue between the government of Lesotho and the European Union (EU) in Maseru yesterday.
The Article 8 of the Political Dialogue features under the Cotonou Agreement and enshrines promotion and respect of the human rights amongst the signatories.
“The elements of the new agreement are indeed an embodiment of the principles of Agenda 2063,” she said. EU Lesotho Head of Delegation Dr. Christian Manahl underscored
the “ongoing” dialogue between the government, business community, parliament and the civil societies. He said the EU wants “friends” and such is Lesotho.
EU Ambassador noted: “We have therefore come together today for a comprehensive discussion on the national reforms in Lesotho, on regional political issues of
relevance in southern Africa including regional integration, on issues of trade between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the European Union, in particular in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreement, and
on socio-economic recovery as we gradually emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic and on humanitarian assistance necessitated by the damage caused by the recent heavy rains.
” Lesotho and the EU delegation also engaged in a close meeting during which they held discussions on, among others, the
implementation of the ongoing multi-sector reforms and the Covid-19 post recovery efforts. “A year that has shown us how precarious our societies and our economies are in the face of unexpected challenges, but
also a year that has shown our resilience, and in particular, a year that has shown the importance of international cooperation. The European Union as a champion of
multilateralism is keenly aware that not only a pandemic, but other major challenges – climate change, the defence of democratic values and human rights,
the preservation of a rules-based global trading and security system, the fight against poverty and inequality – can only be resolved in a collective and
cooperative way. The European Union needs international partners to address these challenges, and the Article 8 Political Dialogue is a way of discussing
common interests and concerns in a comprehensive way,” he added. He further applauded the feat by the local cannabis company, MG Health for achieving the status of being the first in Africa to export the
medical Cannabis to the EU adding that it has been found compliant with the EU’s Good Manufacturing Practice. Present also were the Ministers of Law and Justice Professor Nqosa Mahao and Social Development Hon. ‘Matebatso Doti and the nine EU Member States Ambassadors based in Pretoria, South Africa.
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