ACP PRESS RELEASE: 26 January 2011 – Secretary-General Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas has concluded a successful two-day visit (24-25 January 2011) to Geneva, where he met with Chief Executives of certain United Nations agencies and international organizations and the ACP Geneva Group of Ambassadors. Dr. Chambas, accompanied by the Assistant Secretary-General for Sustainable, Economic Development and Trade, Mr Achille Bassilekin III, is satisfied with his first working visit since taking office last year as it allowed him to strengthen existing partnerships and forge relationship with new stakeholders. In Geneva, the Secretary-General met with the ACP Group of Ambassadors in Geneva; Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mr. Pascal Lamy; Director-General of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), Ambassador William Swing; Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr Hamadoun Toure; Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) , Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi; Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNIDSR), Mrs Margareta Walström; Executive Director of South Centre, Dr Martin Khor; members of the Governing Board of South Centre including among others former President of Tanzania, Mr Benjamin MKAPA, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Acting Deputy Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) ,Mr Anders Aeroe representing Mrs Patricia Francis, etc. Dr Chambas said his visit to Geneva was important given that the city hosts many important international organizations and agencies which are at the forefront of making global policies that are crucial for the development of ACP States. Speaking to the ACP Ambassadors in Geneva, the Secretary-General commended the important contribution they make to the Group and their important roles with various international organizations in Geneva, including the negotiations of the Doha Round. In the same vein, the ACP Coordinator in Geneva and Ambassador of Mauritius, H.E Mr. Servansingh, on-behalf of the Ambassadors expressed their appreciation to Dr. Chambas for visiting Geneva and re-iterated their commitment to carry out their task on behalf of the ACP Group. He called for further synergies between ACP Geneva Group and ACP Brussels and commended the Secretary General for developing a strategic Plan for the institution for the period 2011-2014 for which ACP Geneva Group is prepared to play its role. Dr Chambas reminded the Ambassadors that as they continue to negotiate the Doha Round, it is important to ensure the achievement of the ambition of the ACP Group, namely, to conclude a Doha Round that is development oriented and that takes fully into account the concerns and interests of all ACP States. Meanwhile, trade issues as expected dominated Dr. Chambas meetings with the Geneva based organizations, he also spoke about the future of ACP Group. Similarly, the Secretary-General was also able to hear success stories on joint projects undertaken by the ACP and its partners who are based in Geneva. Dr Chambas and his assistant Mr Bassilekin III were also impressed by the commitment of various institutions sharing similar agenda or concerns with the ACP Group to forge new partnership with ACP Secretariat in the face of emerging challenges confronting the international community and the best way to achieve tangible results. Dr Chambas emphasized that cooperation with other international organizations is vital as it will help the ACP Group to achieve its main aims and objectives, which are the eradication of poverty and integration into the global economy. For further details contact: iroga@acp.int