CARICOM Foreign Ministers to discuss implications of major global issues

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Amid the unfolding of a number of major geopolitical issues, Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will hold the Nineteenth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), 9 – 10 May 2016 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Meeting will provide the Ministers the opportunity for a periodic review of a range of diplomatic matters involving CARICOM’s relations with Third Countries and International organisations.  COFCOR will examine the implications for the Caribbean Community of several emerging issues including the reshaping of the United States relations with Cuba and the pending British referendum on European Union membership.
As the Community seeks to reinforce relations with multilateral organisations, COFCOR will discuss matters regarding the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Within the packed agenda, COFCOR will also seek to forge and strengthen ties with Third States including Brazil, Sweden, Japan, and The Netherlands on issues of mutual interests.
Following on the heels of last week’s Ninth UK-Caribbean Forum in The Bahamas, CARICOM Foreign Ministers will devote part of their meeting to discussing the critical elements emanating from that engagement. The Meeting will also discuss border issues, and a range of bilateral topics involving Mexico, Cuba and the Nordic States, and the Unites States.