Flanked by Angolan Georges Chikoty, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and now Secretary-General of the OACPS, João Lourenço chaired the organization's meeting on Monday, one of many parallel events during the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, taking place in New York, which had as one of its key themes the financial challenges of that organization, according to a statement.
Regarding the OACPS's financial problems, João Lourenço stated that, "if they are not resolved, they risk undermining the organization's ability to effectively serve the interests" of the people and "defend the aspirations that united the 79 member states".
At the meeting, the name of Mokgweetsi Masisi, head of state of Botswana, was unanimously nominated to act as "champion" of the process of raising financial resources to "regain the OACPS's momentum", according to a note issued at the end of the meeting.
Another of the issues highlighted was the situation in Haiti, a Caribbean country experiencing serious political instability and a deteriorating security environment, according to the organization's press release.
The meeting adopted a Declaration "expressing broad solidarity with the Haitian people", which, in the words of the acting President of the OACPS, João Lourenço, deserves "tangible support" and "having everyone by their side, in this time of need", according to the same note.
"The gravity of the crisis [in Haiti] demands immediate and coordinated action, not just in words, but in actions", stated João Lourenço.
