Havana, 13th December, 1996

ADMISSION OF THE ITALIAN 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 Italian Republic has officially expressed to the Association of Caribbean States its interest in participating as Observer;

That there are important prospects for economic and technological exchanges with the Italian Republic in the region;

That the participation of the Italian 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 Italian Republic as Observer to the Association of Caribbean States. Italy'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 Italian 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.