Brussels, 15 September 2016/ ACP: The ACP Committee of Ambassadors recently welcomed new envoys from the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (on 15 September) and the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (on 30 June), who were presented to their peers at the ACP House in Brussels.

The Ambassador of Guyana H.E. Mr. David Hales is the former Director of External Trade within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. Before entering CARICOM, he served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, whereby he supervised CARICOM-EU trade under the CARIFORUM-EU partnership agreement.

In addition to his noteworthy track record at the regional and multilateral level, Ambassador Hales holds valuable experience in ACP issues, having spent twelve years, from 1978 to 1990, as a Counsellor and Head of the Chancellery of the Embassy of Guyana in Brussels. In this capacity, he participated in the ACP Group's activities and ACP-EEC relations at that time, providing him with valuable experience in ACP matters.

In his inaugural address to the Ambassadors, Ambassador Hales reiterated his enthusiasm to contribute to the ACP Group’s work during challenging times. This was welcomed by the Dean of ACP Ambassadors, H.E. Roy Mickey Joy of Vanuatu, who ensured the new Ambassador of the support of the group during the duration of his tenure in Brussels.

Earlier on June 30, the new Ambassador of Timor Leste H.E. Mr. Francisco Tilman Cebeda was also introduced to the Committee of Ambassadors. With 18 years of distinguished experience in the diplomatic arena, including as Head of the Disarmament Bureau at the Timor Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and subsequently, Director of Multilateral Affairs, he was appointed in 2008 as Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Timor-Leste to the Philippines for a period of four years. Thereafter, Ambassador Cededa served as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, until his appointment to Brussels.

Ambassador Cebeda underlined the challenges faced by the ACP, especially those concerning future relations with the European Union after 2020. He reiterated his country’s support for the ACP Group, with particular interest in South-South and Triangular Cooperation. The Vice Dean of the ACP diplomatic corps, H.E Charles Borromée Todjinou, Ambassador of Benin noted the rich contributions made in his home country Timor Leste, as well as to the Portuguese-speaking community of nations, and encouraged his contributions to the work of the ACP.

(Photos from top: The new Ambassadors of Guyana (left) and Timor Leste based in Brussels; Ambassador of Guyana H.E. Mr. David Hales with ACP Secretary General (and former Ambassador of Guyana to Belgium and the EU) H.E. Dr. Patrick Gomes; Ambassador of Timor Leste H.E. Mr. Francisco Tilman Cebeda during his presentation to the ACP Committee of Ambassadors.)

– ACP Press