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Cameroon: Europe is Nation's First Business Partner
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Fred Vubem
The ambassador of the European Union in Cameroon, Javier Puyol, has said, the EU is Cameroon's first business partner. He said relations between the EU and Cameroon evolves through the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, whose principal objective is to foster development.
The first agreement he said was signed on December 17, 2007 and negotiations were under way for a complete economic partnership agreement with the entire sub region. The ambassador made the statement in a party he offered on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the European Union last Friday, May 9, 2008, at the Djeuga Palace hotel in Yaounde. He regretted the fact that customs barriers did not disappear on the 1st January, 2008 as earlier planned but said it was an opportunity and challenge for central African countries and particularly Cameroon, the economic giant of the sub region.
Ambassador Puyol hailed Cameroon's effort in fighting poverty and urged the government to continue in this light notably with the application of the law on declaration of assets for top public officials. He also expressed the wish that only people with a spirit of "neutrality and impartiality" to be members of ELECAM . Javier Puyol frowned at the tribal connotation that some people tried to give to the recent riots witnessed in the country.
The European Union is the brain child of the erstwhile French foreign minister, Schumann, who suggested the need for a supra-national authority in Europe with powers that surpass the sovereignty of members states. Today it has a combined population of close to 500 million inhabitants and possess a quarter of the world's income. They equally account for a fifth of world trade and provide 60 per cent of the world's development and humanitarian assistance. It currency, the euro, has become the world's second most important international reserve and trade currency.
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The ceremony which witnessed the launching of an award on Human Rights and the EU, was attended by members of government, ambassadors from EU member countries, leaders of political parties, NGOs and other members of the civil society.
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