Foreign ministers of 15 Caribbean island nations have unanimously agreed at a meeting to clear the way for the region's integration, according to reports reaching Havana Thursday.

The 15th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), held Wednesday in Guyana, focused on the working of the CARICOM as well as the bloc's relations with other international institutions, said the reports from Georgetown, capital of Guyana.

Participants reached consensus that 2005 would be a decisive year for the application of the Common Market and Economy of the Caribbean, which is to start on Feb. 19 first in Barbados, Jamaica,and Trinidad and Tobago, and then progressively extend to the remaining 12 countries of the bloc.

Preparations for further meetings on CARICOM's economic, trade and foreign affairs were made on the occasion. A CARICOM summit, scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17, was also prepared at the ministerialmeeting.

The Caribbean foreign ministers discussed the recent natural disasters in the region and their impact on the regional economy at the meeting, which was presided by Surinam Foreign Minister Maria Levens.

The meeting also discussed how to strengthen ties with countries of other zones and multilateral institutions, and coordinate the positions of CARICOM members on world affairs.

Created in 1973, the 15-member CARICOM groups Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam and Trinidad and Tobago.

Observers in CARICOM are Anguilla, Caiman Islands, Mexico, Venezuela, Aruba, Colombia, Dutch Antilles, Bermudas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba, while the Virgin Islands is an associate member.

Source: Xinhua