Managua - Nicaragua finalizes details for the meeting of the board of directors of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) for the VIII summit of the organization, which will meet next March in this capital.

The meeting took place Friday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the General Secretary of the association, June Soomer, the Vice President of Foreign Affairs, Valdrack Jaentschke, and delegations from the Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela met to draw up the topical agenda.

According to the meeting, the main theme of the summit will be climate change, due to the implications it has for countries with coasts, as in the case of all ACS members, rising sea levels, among other effects.

'Our main topic will be climate change, we know that our region is the most vulnerable and although we have been present at all the meetings that have to do with the issue we have not made any statement on the subject,' said Soomer.

The directive explained that also prepare meetings on other topics of great importance by member countries, especially about trade, transport, disaster prevention and tourism.

The vice foreign minister stressed that the summit is a great opportunity for the region because of the issues it will address, especially because it can agree on a common policy of member states to address climate change.

'We believe that the association can have an important role in strengthening the region's leadership in defining a world in which climate change is a priority,' Jaentschke said.

Nicaragua assumed the pro tempore presidency of the ACS in 2018, an organisation that this year celebrates the 25th anniversary of its foundation.

The diplomat stressed the importance of the association, which brings together 25 member states and nine associates, a variety of languages, political systems, races and affiliations and different organizations.

The ACS plays a very important role in the area, he stressed, not only because we share the Caribbean Basin, but also the Caribbean Community, and the Central American Integration System.