The First Meeting between the President of France, Jacques Chirac and Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (CARIFORUM/ ACP) States took place in Pointe–Pitre, Guadeloupe on Friday, 10 March 2000 at the request of the French President.
President Chirac described the Meeting as historic in that it was the first time that the French departments in the Americas prepared and addressed issues of concern to them and in their interest with the rest of the Caribbean. Secondly, he said it was a satisfactory Meeting and he also expressed the desire for follow-ups at the Ministerial level as he believes it is important for both sides to build on this initial contact.
Speaking on behalf of CARIFORUM, Prime Minister Percival J. Patterson of Jamaica, who Chairs the Ministerial Council of CARIFORUM, said the Meeting should serve to pave the way for a more meaningful and beneficial relationship between France and the Caribbean.
Mr. Patterson acknowledged the role played by France in helping to secure a successor agreement to Lome 1V, the trade and economic pact between the European Union (EU) and countries of the ACP grouping. In the context of the new EU/ACP framework agreement Mr. Patterson expressed the view that there is likely to be new opportunities for CARIFORUM countries to enhance trade and economic cooperation between France and themselves.
In terms of other assistance to the Caribbean, Mr Patterson said the EU in general, and France in particular can assist in speedily integrating Haiti into the Caribbean Community and CARIFORUM. He stressed that Haiti poses particular challenges including communication and the consolidation of structures of democratic governance.
Mr. Patterson said the CARIFORUM leaders regarded the Meeting with the French leader as a purposeful Meeting and a clear indication that France was not abdicating its responsibility to the Caribbean and intended to make a meaningful and constructive contribution to the development of the Region and to the integration process involving English, French and Spanish speaking Caribbean nations.
The Summit was held against the background of France’s interest in fostering closer relations between its Departments in the Caribbean- Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana and the rest of the Region.
Furthermore, France assumes the Presidency of the European Union in July 2000, and in light of this future development CARIFORUM Heads of State and Government spent some time at the Summit discussing with the French President EU/Caribbean relations and the implications for the Caribbean ACP States of the recently negotiated Successor Agreement to the Lome IV Convention.
Discussions were also held on the following areas: agronomic research, immigration and visa policy, sports and culture, air and sea transportation, prevention and man management of natural disasters and cooperation in drug trafficking While there have been some cooperation activities between the Departments of France and the rest of the Caribbean- France is an associate member of Association of Carib bean States (ACS) – these activities have been sporadic and limited in scope. This Meeting is expected to herald a new era in cooperation between France in the Caribbean and the rest of the Region Both sides agreed to continue to dialogue and examine ways to enhance regional cooperation between the Departments and the Caribbean.
