Representative Acarious Gray of District #8, Montserrado County on Friday, August 1, 2022, told delegates of the 41st Joint parliamentary meeting of the African Caribbean Pacific States and European Union holding in Strasbourg, France that unconstitutional change of governments in the Subregion should not be acceptable and called on the body to take an uncompromising stance on the matter.
Rep. Gray is leading Liberia’s delegation at the seven-day assembly, which brings together European MPs and those from about 79 other ACP nations. The body is expected to discuss issues of international concern, including threats to stability, security and democracy in West Africa and the Sahel region, as well as the global impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We are very concerned about the situation in West Africa and other sub-Saharan countries”, Representative Gray told the audience, adding “because what affects our neighbors affects us directly”. He said the ACP-EU should also take a “definitive” position in speaking up against leaders who undemocratically extend their terms in office.
The lawmaker reminded his colleagues about the numerous protocols and other agreements they have ratified that frowned on instability and coups, as he urged them to be “courageous” and not mince their words. He stressed that powerful nations, including those in the West, must be “clear and straightforward” in defending moral values. “There should be no Invincible hands in encouraging any form of instability or coup d’etat in Sub-saharan Africa”, he said
Meanwhile, Rep Gray has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while calling on the Russian President Vladimir Putin to “withdraw his troops”. He hailed the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people who he said continue to “withstand the test of time”.
Narrating Liberia’s own dreadful experience with war, Gray said it was traumatising to see women and children fleeing in search of safety and bodies littering the streets. This is why, “we say no to war! Peace first and peace last”.
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