Foreign Minister Andres Navarro met with Alfonso Munera, secretary general of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) at the Ministry of Foreign Relations yesterday Tuesday 6 October 2015. “We are honored to welcome you in this timely meeting at a time when the DR is promoting a new and revolutionary foreign policy at the initiative of President Danilo Medina, and whose main priorities include the strengthening of diplomatic ties, a message that we would like to deliver to all the nations that make up the Caribbean bloc you lead,” said Navarro at the start of the meeting. The topics for discussion included climate change, tourism and connectivity within the region.
As reported in Diario Libre, Navarro told Munera that the DR backs the institutional strengthening of ACS “because we recognize that it is a broad space for interaction among Caribbean nations.”
As reported, Navarro and Munera agreed on the need for a greater convergence among the development initiatives in the Caribbean region for their more effective implementation.
“Mr. Munera, in the Dominican Republic there is the political will to promote an active role in the ACS Caribbean Sea Commission because we believe that this is a way to reconcile shared positions on issues that affect the countries in the region,” said Navarro.
The ACS is made up of 32 states, countries and territories of the Greater Caribbean to enhance cooperation within the region, an initiative aimed at building upon obvious geographic proximity and well-documented historical linkages. Its chief purpose is to be an organization for “consultation, cooperation and concerted action” for its member countries. It has stated its priorities as the preservation and conservation of the Caribbean Sea, sustainable tourism, trade and economic external relations, natural disasters and transportation.
The ACS Secretary General is ambassador Alfonso Munera Cavadia and the chairman of the ACS Ministerial Council 2015 is Foreign Minister of Haiti, Lener Renauld.
During the meeting with Munera, Navarro was accompanied by the deputy minister in charge of foreign policy, Alejandra Liriano, the deputy minister in charge of economic affairs and trade negotiations, Cesar Dargam, Dominican ambassador in Haiti Ruben Silie, Dominican ambassador in Jamaica Jose Tomas Ares, Dominican ambassador in Trinidad & Tobago Jose Serulle Ramia, cabinet chief Julio Cesar Santana, strategic analysis director Fernando Ferran, director of relations with Haiti ambassador Alberto Despradel, and Miguel Fersobe, planning director at the Foreign Relations Ministry.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/canciller-navarro-sostiene-encuentro-con-el-secretario-general-de-la-asociacion-de-estados-del-caribe-para-fortalecer-relaciones-con-la-region-YK1480881