The II Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States concluded on Sunday, 18 April in Santo Domingo. President Leonel Fernández in the closing session celebrated the spirit of renewed optimism and strengthened will to make the necessary changes to adapt to globalization. In addition to host Leonel, Fernández of the Dominican Republic, other participating Presidents were: Andrés Pastrana, Colombia; Hugo Chávez, Venezuela; Ernesto Zedillo, Mexico; Miguel Angel Rodríguez, Costa Rica; Armando Calderón, El Salvador; Alvaro Arzú, Guatemala; Janet Jagan, Guyana; Rene Preval, Haiti; Carlos Flores, Honduras; Arnoldo Alemán, Nicaragua; Ernesto Pérez, Panama; Jules Wijdenbosch, Suriname; Fidel Castro, Cuba. Prime Ministers Hubert Ingreham, Bahamas; Said Musa, Belize; Edison James, Dominica; Keith Mitchell, Grenada; Percival Patterson, Jamaica; Kenny Anthony, St. Lucia; Basdeo Panday, Trinidad & Tobago. "With the advent of the new millennium, an encounter of this kind is especially important because it provides the appropriate scenario to identify concerted actions to face the opportunities and challenges that the globalization of markets brings," said President Fernández in his closing remarks. The Declaration of Santo Domingo signed on Saturday, 17 April compiles agreements reached during the meeting. Among these: Establishment of the world’s first Sustainable Tourism Zone. Motion to move forward for the establishment of a regional tariff system to prepare for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. Increased cooperation in view of natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Motion to take measures for a Caribbean Sea free of contamination by toxic wastes and nuclear wastes where coastal marine biodiversity and natural habitats be preserved. Appeal to the US (Caribbean Basin Initiative and sought NAFTA-parity) and Europe (Lomé Convention benefits with Europe) for a temporary extension of Caribbean trade preferences, to allow more time for these small economies to adjust to the globalization of markets. Embracing of democratic rule as essential to development. Appeal to the US to eliminate economic sanctions against Cuba, under the Helms-Burton Law.
