HAVANA, Cuba.- The 41st Annual Conference of the Caribbean Council for the application of Customs Laws, session in Havana for the first time, and on its opening day an agreement was signed that will give rise to the Caribbean Customs Organization.

Meisi Bolanos, Minister of Finance and Prices of Cuba, said this step reaffirms the desire to consolidate cooperation and to maintain the unity of action in times requiring the defense of multilateralism and respect for sovereignty.

Bolanos added that the Monroe Doctrine of the 19^th century is not valid anymore, but to make effective trade facilitation, and not to promote confrontations for the indiscriminate raising of tariffs and other protectionist measures.

Even recognizing there are different approaches, it is possible to search for alternatives and cooperation solutions to contribute to development and peace, the Minister said.

The Strength of Unity

The head of the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba, Nelson Cordoves, welcomed the representatives of the 27 countries participating until Friday at the Annual Conference of the Caribbean Council for the Application of Customs Laws.

The official underlined the relevance of the meeting’s motto, The path to success is strength through unity, and expressed confidence in consolidating consensus as a trend of positions that will successfully confront the region’s complex challenges.

Ricardo Trevino, Under-Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization, presented two programs that will benefit the area as procedural guides for small-economy island countries.

The organization will also promote the so-called Hummingbird Project, referred to the control and risk management of small aircraft operations in the Caribbean.