ACP PRESS RELEASE, 11 January 2012: The Secretary General of the ACP Group of States H.E Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, welcomed Fiji Government’s decision to lift the Public Emergency Regulation with effect from Saturday 7th January 2012. Speaking on behalf the ACP Group of States in Brussels, Dr. Chambas said that this was a significant move which should pave the way for inclusive internal consultations leading to credible elections and restoration of constitutional rule.

Dr. Chambas said that the ACP Secretariat stands ready to provide appropriate technical expertise and support to Fiji towards pursuing constructive dialogue with the European Union in the context of the formal consultations under Article 96 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, at an appropriate time as it has done in the case of other ACP countries in recent times.

The ACP Committee of Ambassadors have been closely monitoring the developments in Fiji, and in turn have regularly apprised the ACP Council of Ministers, the most recent being in December last year. -END