Havana, 13 th December, 1996

The Ministerial Council:

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

Articles 5 and 6, paragraphs 1(B) and 2 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 Association of Caribbean States was conceived within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM);

That CARICOM, SELA, SICA AND SIECA have promoted the startup of the Association of Caribbean States;

That the experience of CARICOM, SELA, SICA and SIECA will enrich the work of the Ministerial Council and the Special Committees;

That CARICOM, SELA, SICA and SIECA are recognized to have emphasized the promotion, consolidation and strengthening of regional cooperation and of the integration process of a significant number of members in the Caribbean Basin;

That CARICOM, SELA, SICA and SIECA are opening a significant space for integrating, diversifying and strengthening the Association, enhancing, consolidating and improving the economic diversification of its members and the Caribbean presence at hemispheric and world levels.

Declare the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Latin American Economic System (SELA), the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Permanent Secretariat of the General Agreement on Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) Founding Observers in the Association of Caribbean States, without prejudice to the provisions in the above mentioned Article 5, in just recognition of the efforts consented in the conception and birth of the ACS and fully persuaded of the valuable contributions that they will make to the objectives of the Association.

The participation of these organizations will be in keeping with the provisions of the Convention establishing the Association of Caribbean States and respective agreements for the work of Founding Members within the Association of Caribbean States.