P.M. attends summit in Venezuela

Prime Minister Said Musa and a high level delegation have attended a summit of the Association of Caribbean States held in Venezuela. The two-day meeting, which ended on Wednesday, was held on Margarita Island and hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Among the accomplishments of the gathering was the adoption of a convention declaring the Caribbean as the world’s first “Sustainable Tourism Zone”. A “Declaration of Margarita” also aims to promote greater co-operation between the English, Spanish, French and Dutch speaking nations of the wider Caribbean. The ACS includes all members of CARICOM plus Central America, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. The French Caribbean Departments, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles are associate members. Accompanying Musa were Foreign Minister designate Assad Shoman, Ambassador Eamon Courtenay and Lawrence Sylvestre of the Ministry Foreign Affairs. Prior to the ACS summit, the Prime Minister made a one-day official visit to Costa Rica where he met with President Miguel Angel Rodriguez. The leaders pledged to improve bilateral relations and intensify efforts to accelerate the economic integration of Central America.