PORT OF SPAIN: 3RD NOVEMBER, 2022
Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, travelled to the Republic of Mozambique to participate in the 42nd Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly from 30th October to 2nd November, 2022. The Minister addressed this Joint Parliamentary Assembly in his official capacity as President of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
The Minister’s Statement to the Assembly, delivered on the morning of 2nd November, 2022, touched on the following themes:
- The Joint OACPS-EU Council of Ministers, which will be co-chaired by Minister Browne and his colleague Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, scheduled to take place in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium on 29th November, 2022
- Cooperation at the international level between the OACPS and the European Union
- Climate change and the aspirations of the OACPS at COP 27
- Developments in the membership of the OACPS
- The consequences of the European Union List of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes and of third countries with AML/CFT deficiencies.
Following the delivery of his formal Statement to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Minister Browne also fielded a wide range of oral and written questions from the Parliamentarians on a variety of subject matters germane to the OACPS-European Union partnership.
Minister Browne also used the opportunity to reiterate, inter alia, Trinidad and Tobago’s unequivocal stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need to respect the territorial integrity of sovereign states, the need to address the issue of reparations for the damage done by slavery, colonial exploitation and native genocide, and the parameters of the partnership between the OACPS and the European Union. This opportunity to exchange views with the Assembly significantly reinforced the dynamic relationship among parliamentarians, Member States and their diplomatic representatives. The calls for unity, solidarity, and mutual respect for sovereign laws and values were expressed consistently.
Another highlight of the Minister’s visit to Mozambique was his role in an engagement on 31st October, 2022 between H.E. Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and lead representatives of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly. Minister Browne participated actively in this exchange of views with the President of Mozambique and flagged to the President the prospect of meaningful cooperation in the energy sector between Trinidad and Tobago and Mozambique.
Dr. the Honourable Amery Browne was supported on this visit by His Excellency Colin Connelly, Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Mr. Colin James, Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Belgium.
