Secretary General reviews achievements of Panama’s chairmanship of the ACS with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama

(Port of Spain, January 9^th 2013) The Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) welcomed the Honourable Francisco Álvarez, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama and current ACS Chair to its Headquarters in Port of Spain today. He was accompanied by Her Excellency Arline Gonzalez, Ambassador of Panama in Trinidad and Tobago, Diego Ortiz de Zaballos, Vice Minister’s Chef de Cabinet, and Luis A. Morán, General Sub Director of International Economic Relations.

Discussions revolved around the current Chairmanship of Panama of the ACS, its great interest and support towards the organization. Panama assumed Chairmanship in February 2012 and the same will end in February of this year. The Secretary General congratulated the Vice Minister on the excellent work and achievements accomplished by Panama during their tenure as Chair of the ACS. Some of the achievements highlighted were; institutional strengthening of the ACS, establishing a code of ethics for the Secretariat and improving the human resource policy at the organisation. The Secretary General further thanked the Vice Minister for his country’s continued and active involvement in the affairs of the ACS.

Other topics on the agenda included matters related to the organization and logistics of the upcoming meetings which are carded to take place from February 20^th – 22^nd in Panama City this year. These meetings include the 17^th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council, the 7^th Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation with ACS Founding Observers where Secretary Generals of various international organizations such as SICA, SIECA, ECLAC, CARICOM, SELA, OECD and CTO are expected to participate, the 27^th Meeting of the Special Committee of Budget and Administration and the Preparatory Meeting for the 18^th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council.

Both diplomats also sought to review the progress made in planning the Fifth ACS Summit. This V Summit is a platform which will gather regional Heads of State and or Government and High Level Officials to discuss matters related to the Association as well as Haiti. This event will take place in Pétion Ville, Haiti from 23^rd to 26^th April this year.