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CUBA, December 4, 2008. Cuba and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will foster links of solidarity and cooperation in the Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be run December 8. The meeting will take place in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba and be the third of this kind carried out since 1972, when four regional nations established diplomatic relations with Cuba, ignoring the US-imposed isolation. Among the CARICOM aims were economic integration, coordination of the foreign policy with independent State members, common services and cooperation. Since the first summit held in Havana in December 2002, this event has enhanced ties and implemented cooperation programs beneficial for all countries. During the second forum held in Barbados and in a special demonstration, the Cuban delegation included Revolution leader Fidel Castro. In addition of the Bridgetown Declaration, that Caribbean nation also inked a statement against terrorism, which urged the United States to extradite confessed criminal Luis Posada Carriles, mastermind of the explosion in mid-air of a Cuban aircraft. The importance of these relations for Cuba, today with embassies in 12 Caribbean countries and another two to be opened, has maximum expression in the presence of Cuban collaborators in health, education and other areas. By Javier Rodriguez Roque. (Cubaminrex- PL) |