Dossier: Association of Caribbean States (AEC) - English
Resumen:The ACS is an organisation promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action, with a current focus on trade, transport, sustainable tourism and natural disasters and furthermore, a serious interest in the preservation of the Caribbean Sea which is viewed as the chief heritage of the peoples of this extensive area.
Contenido:
The Greater Caribbean is a political concept created by the ACS to foster unity among the member countries. This very concept, among the most inclusive one defining the area surrounding the Caribbean Sea, highlights the common historical, social and cultural characteristics of its members. Geographically, it is linked to the West Indies as well as several countries, some of which do not share a Caribbean coast, while others share a space with other areas like North America, the Andean countries and other areas of South America.
When the decision was made to create the ACS, it did not only take into account the need for unity, it also considered the difficulties that would accompany it, which created a greater desire to satisfy the need to strengthen negotiation strategies in the Greater Caribbean, in the face of the multiplicity of international cooperation scenarios including trade and political negotiations forming part of the challenges spawned by the progress of globalisation.
At that time, many of our leaders had only very distant references amongst them, according to a colleague Andrés Serbín, they were indifferent neighbours. However, from 1994 to the present, much has been accomplished in terms of bringing countries together and even though the miracle of Caribbean unity has not yet occurred, we can say that our relations have deepened and we have at least managed to leave the indifference behind, showing interest in both the common and individual problems of each country. The leadership of our Heads of State and Government has given rise to a historical fact, as they have managed to bring together what had been denied through five centuries of history.
- Documento:
aec_ingles.pdf