(de Ware Tijd) BRUSSELS – In spite of the criticism leveled at Suriname and President Desi Bouterse, the European Parliament (EP) will come to Suriname with around 150 persons to attend the ACP-EU summit this November.
Yesterday, Suriname’s Embassy in Belgium issued visa to more than 80 EP delegates, and the rest will follow in the coming days. EP member Michael Gallah (Germany) tells dWT that the EP has accepted the fact that Suriname will host the summit, yet he says the EP has principles and insists its delegates will not meet with Bouterse during the summit. Suriname is respected as the host country, however.
Bernard Hellot, who recently visited Suriname as part of a fact-finding mission of the ACP-EU, also says matters have been settled and that the EP will be pleased to travel to Suriname. Reggy Nelson of Suriname’s Embassy in Brussels says the Europeans have submitted a list of 150 persons, and that more than half of them have been issued a visa so far. More than 100 visa were issued yesterday and the day before to delegates of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Rabin Parmessar, chairman of the summit’s preparatory committee, expects some 450 participants from 27 European and 80 ACP countries.
Hellot says Suriname meets all the requirements to organize the summit. He will travel to Suriname a few days before the summit’s start to make preparations for the European delegates.
