Havana, 13th December, 1996

The Ministerial Council:

Article IV, paragraph 2 of the Convention establishing the Association of Caribbean States,

The Terms of Reference of the Framework Agreement for the participation of the Associate Members in the ACS (Agreement 3/95), and

That the parties of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles) have been actively involved with the ACS, both in the preparatory phase and after the establishment of the Association;

That the formal status of the parties of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has not yet been finalized;

That the above also applies to the other potential Associate Members as mentioned in Appendix 2 of the Convention establishing the ACS.

Encourage the Kingdom of the Netherlands to sign the Convention establishing the Association of Caribbean States, with the purpose of the completion of the agreements for Associate Membership of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles at the earliest opportunity.

Encourage the other potential Associate Members mentioned in Appendix 2 of the Convention establishing the ACS to conclude their formal status within the ACS.