GABORONE - The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani is attending the 90th session of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

The meeting, which started on Monday, is expected to discuss among others the ACP 2010-2011 budget and the appointment of the secretary general of the ACP group for the period 2010-2015. Also expected in the discussions are the second five-yearly review of the Cotonou Agreement and the update made on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

The Cotonou Agreement is a partnership agreement between the members of the ACP group and the European Community which was signed in Cotonou, Benin in 2000 hence the name Cotonou Agreement. The agreement is aimed at establishing a comprehensive partnership based on three pillars which include development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation and political dimension.

The foreign affairs minister is also expected to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago from November 27 to 29.

He is expected to return home on December 3. BOPA