His Excellency the President of Suriname, Jules Wijdenbosch told the IX Ibero-American Summit in Havana, Cuba that the Caribbean Community looked forward to developing and strengthening deeper relations with the Ibero-American countries.

President Wijdenbosch, a member of the Bureau of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was mandated by CARICOM Leaders at their Seventh Special Meeting in Port of Spain last October to represent the Community at the Ibero-American Summit which ended in Havana on Wednesday.

His Excellency said CARICOM stood "prepared to foster greater cooperation not only among our Governments, but also among our peoples."

Following is the full text of the statement delivered by President Wijdenbosch on Monday in Havana:

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME
HIS EXCELLENCY JULES ALBERT WIJDENBOSCH
AT THE IX IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT
15-16 NOVEMBER 1999
HAVANA, CUBA

Your Excellency Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba and Chairman of the Ninth Ibero-American Summit,
Esteemed Colleague Heads of State and Government,
Honourable Ministers and Secretaries of State,
Honourable Secretaries General,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished delegates and other guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a distinct honour and privilege for me to bring greetings on behalf of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) to the IX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Personally , it is also a great pleasure for me to be here once again in this beautiful and historic city of Havana, and I wish to extend my appreciation to the Government and people of Cuba for the warm hospitality and generous courtesy extended to my delegation and me.

Mr. President, I take this opportunity to reiterate the solidarity of the CARICOM towards the Government and the people of Cuba in its strife to overcome the consequences of the economic embargo which has been imposed already for forty years. The Cuban people have maintained their national dignity regardless of the tremendous sacrifices they have experienced as a consequence of this embargo which the international community has overwhelmingly condemned, while demanding its uplifting.

It is of great significance that the Caribbean Community is represented at this Summit as we enter the new millennium. We applaud the Ibero-American States for embracing CARICOM with this decision and the initiative taken over the past two decades, which is an indication of the growing bonds of friendship which has evolved over the years and also the demonstration of realism that the principle of proximity should be a forging power between our countries while circumstances in the international community are deteriorating especially for the developing countries. This political alliance to be forged in Havana, should enable us to meet the challenges which are emerging from these developments.

Bilaterally and regionally, the Caribbean Community has sought to strengthen its ties with Latin America with the consolidation of its relationship with the Member States of MERCOSUR and the Rio Group, and through the establishment of the Association of Caribbean States, CARICOM has been afforded the opportunity to engage in a purposeful partnership with its sister Latin American States which border the Caribbean Sea, the natural patrimony which serves as the bridge to unite the Caribbean region with its South American neighbours.

I gladly applaud the initiative recently taken by the Government of Spain to enter into a political dialogue with our Community for cooperation in the political, economical and cultural field.

Mr. President, let me take this opportunity to briefly make an assessment of the development in the international community in the field of trade, finance and economy.

The process of globalisation has increased the influence of markets benefiting only a few countries, while at the same time it has seriously jeopardised the economies of developing nations in particular the small and vulnerable ones.

The fruits of many years of economic growth, poverty reduction, efforts to create economic well-being, social justice and sustainable human development will vanish while practically all developing countries will be affected.

Trade preferences have been undermined and the principles of international cooperation are often being put aside.

Commitments to the financing of development have not been met, while those concerning Official Development Assistance have been neglected.

The reduction of prices of commodities to their lowest level and the reduction of Official Development Assistance, have confused many Governments in developing countries with the inability to address in a satisfactory manner the just socio-economic demands of their respective peoples, which in many cases triggered social unrest and political instability and hamper efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Financing for development has become more difficult since the flow of private capital resources has been limited to certain regions and to a few developing countries, resulting in a further widening of the gap between developed and the majority of developing countries.

It is under these circumstances that the CARICOM countries with their vulnerable economies are seeking for partnership with like-minded countries, to meet the challenges of a new millennium. In this respect it is of utmost importance that our countries cooperate at regional and sub-regional level in the field of finance, economics, education and culture in achieving sustainable human development, safeguarding peace and security in our respective regions, develop a common strategy in the process of globalisation and to battle the scourge of illegal drug- trafficking and related transbordering crimes in a more effective way.

At the turn of the Century our region must confront the many challenges of the continuing process of globalisation, and collaboration can function as an instrumental tool for counteracting the negative aspects of globalisation and for enhancing the trade and economic ties between us.

As we approach the Third Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference, the Caribbean Community supports the initiation of a process of review, repair and reform with respect to the implementation of issues and the built in agenda, rather than launching the further extension of WTO disciplines to regulate new issues. Moreover we are of the view that the agenda for the forthcoming WTO negotiations should be balanced to respond to the interests of all economies, which should be sufficiently broad based to allow satisfactory negotiations.

The Community also endorses the position that the interests of developing countries, including the smaller economies of the FTAA, should be addressed through enhanced attention to the effective implementation of special and differential treatment and other WTO provisions affecting developing countries and increased support for capacity building and technical assistance so as to facilitate their ability to participate fully in and benefit from the WTO. In this respect I also wish to refer to the recent WTO ruling concerning the banana regime, which ruling will have tremendous negative effects on the vulnerable economies of the Caribbean.

The Member States of the Caribbean Community view with pride the legacy which we have been able to overcome and the unity which has emerged with our Ibero American sister nations.

We look forward to the strengthening of these bonds of friendship in the new millennium and the consolidation of the progress which has been achieved between our countries and out structures to forge a partnership for development and mutual understanding ,in the promotion of a global committee towards peace and the sustainable development of our people in the various areas of human and social endeavour.

The Caribbean Community looks forward to developing and strengthening deeper relations with the Ibero-American countries and we stand prepared to foster greater cooperation not only among our Governments, but also among our peoples.

In closing, I wish you all fruitful and productive deliberations as you contemplate your endeavours and craft your vision to guide the peoples of the Ibero American nations into the Twenty First Century.

I thank you.