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Ireland urges EAC to learn from Brexit

Xinhua, June 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Ireland has suggested the need for the East African Community (EAC) to sensitize the common citizenry on the real benefits of integration, noting that lack of such an awareness was one of the key reasons for Brexit.

Fionnuala Gilsenan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Tanzania - who is also accredited to the EAC bloc - made the call Tuesday when she met with EAC secretary general Liberat Mfumukeko.

The Ireland envoy informed the EAC boss that the decision by UK to exit European Union would have great implications especially in Northern Ireland.

Gilsenan also commended the impressive progress made by EAC, especially the finalization of ambitious Protocols and Policies.

On the Burundi Dialogue Process, the ambassador underlined the need to have a strong dialogue plan that would accommodate the views of all stakeholders involved.

She further affirmed to the secretary general her country's continued support for EAC projects and programmes, confirming that Ireland was committed to contributing to the EAC Partnership Fund.

The two leaders discussed among other things the possible areas of cooperation especially in the implementation of the Common Market Protocol and in particular, the Free Movement of Persons.

Mfumukeko informed the Irish envoy that the implementation of the next EAC Development Strategy would commence in 2017 and the regional bloc was counting on Ireland's support to realize its goals.

Commenting on the progress of the Burundi Peace Talks, Mfumukeko gave an update that former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa had recently met a group of politicians in Brussels as a continuation of the consultations that had been held in Arusha in May.

He mentioned that the talks required further negotiations between all the parties involved and that EAC was supporting an all-inclusive dialogue process.

On South Sudan, the secretary general informed the Irish ambassador that the country has been given six months to complete the ratification process of the Accession Treaty signed on April 15, 2016, after which the country would be a full member of the EAC. Endit