The Heads of State and/or Government of the States, Countries and Territories of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), meeting in Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta State, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on December 11-12, 2001;

Committed to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Convention Establishing the ACS;

Recalling our commitment to the Declaration of Principles and its Plan of Action resulting from the historic First Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the ACS, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on August 17-18, 1995, and the priorities identified for promoting regional integration, functional co-operation and co-ordination among the Member States and Associate Members of the ACS;

Considering the Declaration of Santo Domingo and Plan of Action emanating from the Second Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the ACS, held in Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Dominican Republic, on April 16-17, 1999; and

Determined to strengthen the ACS as a body for consultation, concerted action and co-operation and recognising the importance of promoting conditions aimed at consolidating a Caribbean identity that would further strengthen our historical, political, economic, trade, social and cultural links:

1.       We pledge to establish the region of the Greater Caribbean as a Zone of Co-operation, in recognition of the common geographic space shared by our States, Countries and Territories, and the common interests and objectives derived therefrom. The Greater Caribbean Zone of Co-operation will consist initially of joint actions in the priority areas of the ACS, namely, Trade, Sustainable Tourism, Transport and Natural Disasters.

2.       We express our firm conviction that democracy, economic and social development and respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

3.       We reiterate respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-intervention, as well as the right of each people to build its own political system in peace, stability and justice. We therefore strenuously reject any type of intervention in the internal affairs of States and the extra-territorial application of internal laws and unilateral and conditional measures for co-operation. In this context, we reiterate our appeal to the Government of the United States of America to end the application of the Helms-Burton Law, in conformity with the pertinent resolutions approved within the United Nations General Assembly.

4.       We condemn terrorism and we confirm our commitment to combat it in all its forms and expressions, wherever it occurs and by whomever it is committed, and we are unequivocally committed to preventing and eliminating this scourge, as well as to consolidating mechanisms and instruments for international and regional co-operation in order to confront it, in accordance with the objectives and principles contained in the international instruments on this subject.

5.       We also observe with concern the growing threat of transnational organised crime and we express our commitment to fight it in all its forms, and especially, to prevent, suppress and eliminate the trade of persons, the illicit traffic of migrants by land, sea and air; and the illicit trade and manufacture of firearms, components and ammunition.

6.       We recognise the worldwide nature of the drug problem and its related crimes and the need for all forms of bilateral and multilateral co-operation mechanisms. We reiterate the principle of shared responsibility and of an integrated, balanced approach to the problem, in accordance with international law, and, in particular, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

7.       We highlight the importance of alternative development and its sustainability, which would permit legal socio-economic alternatives and opportunities to generate income, improvement of the quality of life, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.

8.       We agree that the principle of shared responsibility must be applied in the fight against the illicit traffic of small and light firearms, drug trafficking and money laundering. In this respect, we affirm our commitment to prevent, combat and eliminate this illicit trade at the national, regional and global levels, including measures to ensure international co-operation and assistance.

9.       We support the strengthening of co-operation mechanisms to exchange information among legal and judicial institutions, and we recognize the importance of ratifying the Inter American Convention against the Manufacture and Illicit Traffic in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and other related materials. In this context, we support the implementation of a Plan of Action of the UN Conference on the Illicit Traffic in Small and Light Firearms, in all its aspects, held in New York in July 2001, and we congratulate Colombia for its work in chairing the event.

10.   In order to combat the problem of corruption whose scope is transnational, we are in favour of promoting co-operation among Member States and Associate Members, as well as among national institutions responsible for enforcing the law in each country to eradicate corruption where it exists. In this regard, we value the contribution of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and, as such, we support the negotiation of a United Nations Convention against Corruption, to be conducted from January 2002.

11.   We agree that among the fundamental causes of poverty and under-development is the unequal distribution of wealth and knowledge prevailing in the world. In this respect, we support all co-ordinated and determined efforts to create an environment leading to sustainable economic and social development aimed at combating poverty and inequality and therefore pledge to achieve economic growth with social equity and to combat poverty, as fundamental conditions for deepening democracy, political stability and the legitimacy of our Governments.

12.    We reaffirm the principles of solidarity, consultation, co-operation and concerted action to be the best way forward for the region to benefit from the opportunities and to meet the challenges of globalisation. We also recognise that the cultural heritage of the Greater Caribbean is a powerful unifying force and we affirm the importance of protecting and promoting the expressions of our cultural identity.

13.   We confirm our commitment to an international trade system based on rules that favour special and differential treatment for developing countries, particularly within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). For this, we must work towards concerted positions, including civil society in the decision making process. We therefore ratify the principles agreed to by our Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for trade negotiations at the meeting held on September 5, 2001, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Special and Differential Treatment for Small Economies in the framework of the FTAA, which is attached to this Declaration. We support the proposal for the creation of a Regional Development Fund within the FTAA process.

14.   We recognise the importance of the agreement of the 4^th WTO Ministerial Meeting to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the core of the WTO Work Programme, adopted at Doha. We also express our greatest interest and support for the multilateral trade negotiations launched at Doha to take into account in an adequate, effective and binding manner, the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, so as to respond to their economic and social development needs.

15.   We consider of particular interest for developing countries the creation of a working group to examine the inter-relation of trade, debt and finance, with a view to supporting a lasting solution to the problem of the external debt of developing countries, and of another group to study the links between trade and the transfer of technology, with the aim of presenting the relevant recommendations to increase the flows of technology towards developing countries. Similarly, we welcome the agreement reached in relation to the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and to Public Health, particularly due to the recognition of the right of Members to apply measures to solve the serious public health problems that afflict many developing countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics.

16.   We reiterate the need to work jointly to consolidate a broad economic space for trade and investment, and we encourage the reduction of obstacles to trade in the Greater Caribbean. In this respect, we will continue to promote integration and co-operation measures that would strengthen intra-regional trade and investment.

17.   We consider the institutionalisation of the Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean as an essential mechanism to promote trade and investment in the region. As such, we congratulate Venezuela and Mexico for organising the 1^st and 2^nd Business Fora of the Greater Caribbean and we offer our support to the efforts of Costa Rica and Cuba to host the 3^rd and 4^th Fora in the years 2002 and 2003 respectively.

18.   We endorse the implementation of the Integrated Information System of the Greater Caribbean and we instruct the integration and co-operation Secretariats and entities of the region to execute this project.

19.   We recognise the Energy Co-operation Programme for Central American and Caribbean Countries, better known as the San José Agreement, as a unique instrument of collaboration, which over twenty years of operation, has meant significant support for economic and social development in the region.

20.   In addition, we appreciate the efforts being made by Venezuela to co-operate with a group of countries of the region, through the Caracas Energy Agreement, in order to contribute to the economic and social progress of the beneficiary countries of this agreement.

21.   We underline the importance of the International Conference on Financing for Development which, under the auspices of the United Nations, will take place in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 18-22, 2002. We recognize that this key multilateral forum represents an ideal opportunity to reach consensus in the international community, to respond to the urgent need to reactivate international financing to promote development and the reduction of inequalities among countries. We also reaffirm our commitment to promoting active participation in preparatory efforts and during the very development of the Conference, so as to foster qualitative and quantitative participation in it.

22.   We welcome the recent support offered to the region by the member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank, with negotiations being held for the signing of a new Cycle of Replenishment of Resources for the Special Development Fund, through pledges to finance social projects and projects to combat poverty in its beneficiary countries. We also appreciate the efforts made by the Bank regarding negotiations to expedite Haiti’s admission as a borrowing member country.

23.   Taking into account the importance of tourism for the economic development of the Greater Caribbean, we urge the early ratification and implementation of the Convention for the Establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean, signed at this Third Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the ACS.

24.   Recognising the Caribbean Sea as the common patrimony of the region, and an invaluable asset for which we give special priority to its preservation, we urge our countries to take fully into account the elements of the Resolution "Promoting an Integrated Management Approach to the Caribbean Sea Area in the context of Sustainable Development" (A/RES/55/203), approved by the 55^th Session of the UN General Assembly, and to continue taking steps for the Caribbean Sea to be recognised by the international community as a Special Area in the context of Sustainable Development.

25.   We support the conclusions of the Regional Preparatory Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean World Summit on Sustainable Development held on October 23 to 24, 2001, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as contained in the Rio de Janeiro Platform for Action, and also take note of the Regional Roundtable for Latin America and the Caribbean held in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 18 to 20, 2001, in the context of the preparations for the Earth Summit, “Rio + 10”, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.

26.   We support the conclusions of the Ministers of the Environment of Central America and the Caribbean, meeting in Panama City, Panama, on October 26-27, 2001, who, in their final declaration, expressed the urgent necessity of forging a new culture of water in our societies, which, based on the best traditions of our peoples, incorporates new values and realities to guarantee the conservation, rational use, economic valuation and the understanding and acceptance by all the population that water is a finite and vulnerable resource, indispensable to all living beings and necessary for sustainable human development.

27.   We recognise the need for urgent action to minimise the negative impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. In this regard, we urge all countries which have not already done so, taking into consideration the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, to sign and ratify the relevant international treaties, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol of this Convention.

28.   We urge those Member States and Associate Members that have not yet signed and/or ratified the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, known as the Cartagena Convention, and its Protocols, to do so as soon as possible and to take all necessary steps to ensure national implementation of their provisions at the earliest opportunity.

29.   We reiterate our strenuous and total rejection of the continued use of the Caribbean Sea for the shipment and trans-shipment of nuclear materials and toxic waste, given the threat that any accidental or deliberately induced spill of these materials would represent to the life and ecosystems of the region.       

30.   We reaffirm the importance of the Agreement between Member States and Associate Members of the Association of Caribbean States for Regional Co-operation on Natural Disasters, and we urge its early ratification and implementation.  We also reaffirm the importance of international co-operation in Natural Disaster prevention, by promoting scientific and technical activities that would strengthen the capabilities of Member States and Associate Members to address the reasons for vulnerability, to confront disasters and reduce their negative impact, by means of continuous human resource training and instruction.

31.   We are in favour of recognising the need, in those countries where the situation does not exist, for national Disaster Management Organizations (DMOs) to operate independently, and as such, to be assigned autonomous budgets, so that they might be responsible for emergency response and relief, as well as the implementation of plans and programmes for prevention, mitigation and reduction. 

32.   Taking into consideration the importance of risk management, which implies intensifying all actions towards risk as a process, we pledge to include it as a platform that would guide investment within the social and economic development programmes of our countries.

33.   We recommend that Member States and Associate Members consider the possibility of creating National Post-Disaster Funds that would respond to financing needs in the areas of rehabilitation, reconstruction and mitigation of risk of disasters.

34.   We recognise the importance of effective air and maritime transport, with a view to implementing the programme "Uniting the Caribbean by Air and Sea". These kinds of transportation are essential for the development of regional trade and tourism and the general self-sustainability of the region. In this context, we urge the continuation of negotiations leading to the conclusion of the Air Transport Agreement among the Member States and Associate Members of the ACS who so wish, as well as the development and implementation of a port and maritime database for the benefit of the public and private sectors.

35.   We welcome the commencement programmes of academic activities, in the area of maritime transport, for the countries of the Greater Caribbean, by the Maritime University of the Caribbean, headquartered in Vargas State, Venezuela, whose academic fields and levels contribute to human resource development in the countries of the Greater Caribbean, as well as the creation of a Regional Coordinating Centre to utilise all existing potential in the different Member States and Associate Members. 

36.   We acknowledge the indisputable fact that the eradication of diseases is vital to our social well-being and economic prosperity and are concerned about the formidable threat posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic to the sustainable economic development and social stability of our countries. We recall, moreover, the Declaration of Commitments emanating from the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/AIDS of June 2001, which highlights, inter alia, “encouraging and supporting local and national organisations to expand and strengthen regional partnerships, coalitions and networks” in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  We therefore strengthen our collective commitment to the eradication of this pandemic.

37.   In this context, we support a basic public education programme for the population in general; international co-operation to promote access by all, without discrimination, to pharmaceutical products, raw materials or fundamental medical technology, for prevention, cure or relief; and the promotion of programmes for the control of sexually transmitted diseases, applying treatments with a syndromic approach, particularly in countries with fewer economic resources.

38.   Recalling that the first European Union/Latin America and the Caribbean Summit (EU/LAC), held in June 1999, defined a strategic association, aimed at developing political, economic and cultural relations between the two regions, we recognize that the Second EU/LAC Summit, to be held in Madrid, Spain, in May 2002, will be an opportune occasion to consolidate the aforementioned association and to promote participatory and equitable dialogue between the countries of the Greater Caribbean and the EU/LAC.

39.   We express the need to increase the resources of the Special Fund of the ACS, as a mechanism for the implementation of projects in the priority areas of the Association. In this regard, we appreciate the efforts of Venezuela in conducting the negotiations leading to the creation of a Protocol of Co-operation, through which the ACS will have access to the resources of the OPEC Fund for International Development, as well as the initiation of negotiations with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the signing of a co-operation agreement with the ACS. We also welcome the conclusion of the Co-operation Agreement with the International Organization of the Francophonie to strengthen the French language capabilities of the ACS Secretariat and of the Greater Caribbean.

40.   We recognize the importance of making commitments to increase links and strengthen relations with other regional and international co-operation agencies, dedicated to financing resources and providing technical assistance, in accordance with the strategic needs of the region. 

41.   We recognise and value the significant contribution that civil society is making to the strengthening and development of the ACS and therefore we urge the continuation of its important contribution to the consolidation of the Greater Caribbean Zone of Co-operation.

42.   We look forward to achieving universality of membership as provided for in the Convention Establishing the Association of Caribbean States and we urge those eligible Countries and Territories to take the necessary steps to become Associate Members.

43.   We reiterate the importance of the political dialogue of the Heads of State and/or Government of the ACS in order to strengthen the ACS as an important forum for co-operation, consultation and concerted action.

44.   We express our deep gratitude to the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, His Excellency Hugo Chávez Frías, and to the Venezuelan Government and people, for their warm welcome and generous hospitality throughout this Third Summit.