(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Edwin Carrington and the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Mr Hans Winkler, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on CARICOM-Austria Co-operation on Saturday 27 September in New York, USA. The major areas of focus of the MOU will be disaster management and alternative energy.
The signing took place at the end of a hectic week for the Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers of CARICOM as well as the Secretary-General during the United Nations (UN) 63rd General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York and on the same day that the Community’s Council for Foreign and Community relations (COFCOR), held its Eleventh Informal Consultations.
Matters of priority interest to CARICOM on the UN agenda were addressed by the Council and the coordination of strategies and positions undertaken. Among the issues discussed were the climate change negotiating process, the initiative on the Caribbean Sea in the context of sustainable development, the food crisis, financing for development, and the ongoing UN reform process, especially with respect to the UN Security Council.
An update was made of the Community’s candidatures within the UN system and of the CARICOM-initiated project to have a permanent memorial to the victims of the slave trade and of slavery established at the UN. The Ministers also received a briefing on issues related to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), from Haiti which is the current chair of the Council.
During the week, Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers of CARICOM addressed the General Assembly (UNGA) and underlined the principles and values that underpin the Community’s foreign relations stance – multilateralism and the rule of international law. They also drew attention to the concerns and threats that impinge on the social and economic development and security of the Community’s Member States. Particular mention was made of climate change, drug and small arms trafficking, decreasing overseas development assistance and reduced access to concessionary development finance as well as the inequitable terms of international trade.
By bringing together the leaders of a large number of Member States, the UNGA provides the opportunity for bilateral and multilateral exchanges among countries that do not meet regularly thereby helping to strengthen or to initiate diplomatic and co-operation links.
The past week allowed for a Special Meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government on Reforming International Institutions on 24 September which was preceded by a meeting of that group’s Foreign Ministers. At that Special Summit, Commonwealth Leaders highlighted the importance of reform efforts being inclusive, so that all states irrespective of size and strength would have the opportunity to participate and contribute to global discussions on the issue.
On 25 September, the now traditional meeting in the margins of the UNGA of CARICOM Foreign Ministers with the US Secretary of State took place. Heads of Government were also invited to the meeting with US Secretary of Sate Condoleezza Rice at which both sides agreed that there had been progress in the relationship over the past four years and that the momentum should be maintained. The meeting also facilitated a quick update on the follow-up to the Conference on the Caribbean of 2007 in Washington D.C. and a mutual pledge to establish a formal, institutional framework to leave a strong platform for continued CARICOM-US dialogue.
An exchange of views took place on the issue of trade and investment and on the relief and recovery needs of Haiti following the disastrous series of hurricanes earlier this month. The Community’s concerns with regard to crime and security and to the increase in drugs and small arms trafficking facilitated by what it perceives as a shift in security focus by the US away from the Region were raised. The US Secretary of State reiterated the commitment of the US in this area and proposed the commencement of a US-CARICOM security co-operation dialogue that would build on the security platform being currently put in place by the Community.
CARICOM Foreign Ministers also participated in the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 and China on 26 September. Chairman of CARICOM, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Antigua and Barbuda presided over the meeting as his country is chairman of the grouping.
The COFCOR Bureau met on 25 September with the Foreign Minster of Argentina whose country wishes to deepen its relations with the Community and this follows an official visit to that country earlier this year in May by Secretary-General Carrington.
