Petiónville, January 19 (RHC)-- Cuba has assumed the rotating presidency of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), in the framework of the 21st ordinary Meeting of the organization's Council of Ministers, which is holding sessions in the suburb of Petiónville of the Haitian capital.

At Tuesday's opening session, Haitian Minister for Foreign Affairs Lener Renauld passed on the ACS's pro-temp presidency to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who took the opportunity to officially submit Cuba's proposal to host the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States in the first half of 2016.

Topics for discussions include the protection and preservation of the Caribbean Sea in today's scenario, marked by the threat climate change poses to mostly tourism-dependent small island states.

Participants will also analyze observer status requests submitted by Belarus and the International Organization for Migration, and another request submitted by Saint Martin, which is interested in becoming an ACS associate member.

Comprising 25 member states, the Association of Caribbean States is a consultation and cooperation mechanism among Caribbean countries. It coordinates joint actions in such areas as trade, transportation, tourism and the monitoring and effect mitigation of adverse weather phenomena.