Havana, 13th December, 1996

ADMISSION OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC AS OBSERVER
TO THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN STATES

The Ministerial Council:

Articles V and IX, item (c), of the Convention establishing the ACS;

Articles 5, 6, paragraph 1 (D) and 9 of the Norms and Conditions governing the Participation of Observers in the Open Sessions of the Ministerial Council and of the Special Committees, and

That the Argentine Republic has officially expressed to the Association of Caribbean States its interest in participating as Observer;

That the Argentine Republic has traditionally reaffirmed its commitment to enhance the links of friendship and cooperation with the countries of the Caribbean Basin, which it considers interlocutors of fundamental importance for the future of hemispheric relations;

That there are important prospects for economic exchanges with the Argentine Republic in the region;

That the Argentine Republic wishes to share experiences connected with development processes;

That the participation of the Argentine Republic will enrich the work of the Association of Caribbean States,

That cooperation should be based on the purposes and principles of the ACS and the guidelines established to that effect in Agreement No. 4/96.

1. Admit the Argentine Republic as Observer to the Association of Caribbean States. Argentina's participation will be in keeping with the provisions of the Convention establishing the Association of Caribbean States and the Norms and Conditions governing the Participation of Observers in the Open Sessions of the Ministerial Council and of the Special Committees.

2. Invite the Government of the Argentine Republic to make financial and other contributions to the Association, pursuant to Article 9 of Agreement 4/95, and instruct the Secretary General that contacts should be established with this Goverment in order to determine the terms in which said contributions shall be made.