Cuba eyes stronger role of ACS

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with Association of Caribbean States (ACS) chief June Soomer here on Monday to discuss ways to reinforce the role of the regional organization.

Rodriguez and the ACS secretary general discussed the implementation of the agreements of the organization's seventh summit held in Havana in June, according to a press release from the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

Soomer informed the Cuban minister about the implementation of the program developed by the ACS to address climate change in the region for the next two years.

The ACS was formally created in July 1994 with an aim to promote consultation, cooperation and concerted action among its member countries. Cuba holds the presidency of the 25-member organization this year.

During the summit in Havana in June, the region's leaders approved the Havana Declaration and agreed to strengthen the regional role of the ACS with joint cooperation, consultation and political concertation.

The declaration touched on political issues like the U.S. blockade on Cuba, the Venezuelan crisis as well as the joint action plan for the next two years set to increase economic and commercial cooperation among the member states.