11 Dec 2019

The relationship that Botswana has enjoyed with the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) over the period of its membership has been one of extraordinary benefit.

Speaking during a brief media session on December 10 upon arrival from the 9th ACP summit held in Kenya, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the benefits may not necessarily have come in ways of economic opportunity or direct profit or even in terms of aid.

“The lessons that we learnt on how to access the European market, lessons we learnt in negotiating trade, lessons we learnt from our peers who had different products that we did not have that we actually might have now, have been invaluable, that has all been a result of our ACP relationship,” he said.

Dr Masisi said Botswana also learnt and benefitted from forging linkages and broadening conceptualization of multilateralism and understanding world issues as they affected other member states.

He said the just-ended summit presented a transformed ACP committed to multilateralism.

The President said the summit took place when the ACP was facing challenges and had to transform to remain relevant to its members and partners.

“ACP after this meeting, sought to reinvent itself so that it becomes a more structural organisation to respond to challenges especially of multilateral nature. If you look at the geographic span of our countries and the challenges brought about by geography itself, economic circumstances and political challenges, it’s only logical to stick to the mantra of multilateralism as a unifying attribute going forward,” he added.

He said ACP membership had been largely commodity  driven countries and Botswana joined under the then  Georgetown Agreement.

Dr Masisi said at the 7th ACP summit, a landmark decision was taken to review the Georgetown Agreement and include new structures for implementation.

He explained that member states were essentially looking for an ACP that would be an independent organ with multiple partnerships as well as an influential actor in global economic and political governance.

“Botswana made stellar statements at the summit and we held the view that a transformed ACP must be committed to multilateralism, which is in tandem with Botswana’s own foreign policy posture. We are big believers in multilateralism for it is necessary for our existential success. We wanted a more dynamic inter-ACP cooperation at the social and economic level to enhance our development,” he said.

Dr Masisi said sub themes discussed included cooperation for good governance, peace and security, combating terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization.

Also discussed were climate change and essential pre-requisites for economic development, he said.

The President said among the decisions made at the summit was the adoption of the revised Georgetown Agreement and the appointment of a new secretary general to succeed the incumbent whose term ends in April.

Dr Masisi said there had been a significant drop in member states contributions which was a worrying factor. 

However, he said  there had been consolidation of democratic gains as more ACP countries had democratized and associated themselves with values of democratic conduct.

Dr Masisi paid homage to former Minister Mr Archibald Mogwe’s contribution to the 1974/75 Georgetown Agreement.

He also lauded Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow’s sterling role of chairing the search processes for a new ACP secretary general. Ends