Caribbean Report 17-02-1995
France has threatened to provoke a crisis in the EU, after the failure of the European Union Foreign Ministers to agree on aid funding to ACP countries. The ACP Ministers held a session aimed at working out what to do after the financial rug was pulled from under their feet. Pat Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of CAIC believes that the new bill offering Caribbean countries parity with NAFTA could benefit the region. At the CARICOM Heads of Government Intersessional Meeting the practicalities of a free trade area and a decision on the future of LIAT were discussed. CARICOM leaders have opted for the modest objective of easing the convertibility of currencies in the region to help with free trade. Belize Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel raised the issue of the historical sovereignty dispute between Guatemala and Belize. Cuba's Foreign Minister Rafael Dausa responds to Senator Jesse Helms proposals to tighten the US embargo on Cuba. Rosie Hayes reports on the growing interests in sending aid to Cuba. Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of French President, pays an official visit to Havana. In other Cuban related matters, Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is interested in getting a better knowledge of the agricultural issues in that country.
Summary: | France has threatened to provoke a crisis in the EU, after the failure of the European Union Foreign Ministers to agree on aid funding to ACP countries. The ACP Ministers held a session aimed at working out what to do after the financial rug was pulled from under their feet. Pat Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of CAIC believes that the new bill offering Caribbean countries parity with NAFTA could benefit the region. At the CARICOM Heads of Government Intersessional Meeting the practicalities of a free trade area and a decision on the future of LIAT were discussed. CARICOM leaders have opted for the modest objective of easing the convertibility of currencies in the region to help with free trade. Belize Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel raised the issue of the historical sovereignty dispute between Guatemala and Belize. Cuba's Foreign Minister Rafael Dausa responds to Senator Jesse Helms proposals to tighten the US embargo on Cuba. Rosie Hayes reports on the growing interests in sending aid to Cuba. Danielle Mitterrand, the wife of French President, pays an official visit to Havana. In other Cuban related matters, Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is interested in getting a better knowledge of the agricultural issues in that country. |
---|