Mr. Secretary-General, it is an honor for me to be here today to present my credentials as United States Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community. The United States enjoys good relations with the countries of the Caribbean Community, so it is appropriate that the U.S. Government have direct representation with the CARICOM Secretariat.
The countries of CARICOM collectively constitute the third border of the United States, and they share strong cultural and historic ties with the U.S.
It is a relationship that we wish to maintain and to deepen. As the countries of CARICOM work towards greater regional, hemispheric and global integration and cooperation, it is essential that the U.S. work directly with the CARICOM Secretariat.
It is therefore an auspicious time to establish this relationship. CARICOM is currently engaged in implementing the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, a process that the U.S. fully supports. That process envisions the establishment of a CARICOM single market and economy, an important step towards integrating the economies of the region, and improving the region's competitiveness on the world market. This is occurring as the hemisphere is moving towards completing the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The FTAA will remove barriers and generate increased trade and prosperity for the entire hemisphere and provide increased access for CARICOM countries to the U.S. and other hemispheric markets.
Mr. Secretary-General while acknowledging the positive potential of hemispheric integration, we must be mindful of the regional and global threats posed by terrorism and international narcotics trafficking. The tragic events of March 11 in Madrid and other terrorist attacks in Asia, Africa and Europe serves as a reminder that the fight against terrorism requires the cooperation of all nations. It is an issue for all freedom loving people of the world, and illustrates that no country is immune from terrorist actions.
Likewise, international narcotics trafficking also continues to be a major and in places growing, problem in the region. Some community member states have also been identified as transit points for drugs traveling from producing regions in South America to North America, and are themselves witnessing increasing rates of drug usage in their own population.
Both terrorism and narcotics trafficking are international problems, and it is only through international cooperation that we can hope to effectively address these twin threats. To confront these threats countries of the region must work closely together, with the United States and the international community to make all of our nations safer and more secure.
The small size and resource constraints of CARICOM countries reinforces the value of the community. By coming together CARICOM is able to share the burden, making all of its member countries better able to advance their interests. My government believes that my accreditation to CARICOM will enhance and formalize operational and functional ties with the Secretariat at the working level.
For these reasons and as someone with roots in the region, I am very delighted to present my credentials today as the first U.S. Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM. This represents a significant milestone in the historic relationship between the United States and CARICOM, and I hope that it will serve to further strengthen the enduring friendship between the United States and the countries of CARICOM.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration as I inaugurate this new level of involvement between the United States and CARICOM.
