Secretary General Meets with Caribbean Leaders at the Summit of the Association of Caribbean States
WASHINGTON, DC – The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, travelled to Mexico to participate in the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), taking place in the city of Mérida. In this context, Secretary General Insulza has held meetings with several Caribbean leaders attending the regional event, as well as the President of the host country, Enrique Peña Nieto.
During the two days of meetings, April 28 and 29, the Secretary General has also had the opportunity to meet with the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly; the President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar; the President-elect of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís; the Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart; the Foreign Minister of Haiti, Duly Brutus; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, among others.
The Summit is a crucial meeting place for the discussion of the problems and challenges presented by the international agenda and for the strengthening of historical, economic, social and cultural ties among the peoples of the Caribbean, through clear strategies and concrete initiatives. The event also allows for the outlining of clear goals and specific objectives in order for those ties to continue contributing to the development of the Caribbean States.
The Convention Establishing the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) was signed on July 24, 1994, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean. The objectives of the Association, based upon this Convention, are: the strengthening of the regional cooperation and integration process, with a view to creating an enhanced economic space in the region; preserving the environmental integrity of the Caribbean Sea which is regarded as the common patrimony of the peoples of the region; and promoting the sustainable development of the Greater Caribbean. Its current areas of focus are commerce, transport sustainable tourism and natural disasters.
