11985I/AFI/DCL/01

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Joint declaration of intent

on the development and intensification of relations with the countries of Latin America

The Community :

- confirms the importance which it attaches to its traditional links with the countries of Latin America and to the close cooperation which it has developed with those countries ,

- recalls in that context the recent ministerial meeting at San-José in Costa Rica ,

- on the occasion of the accession of Spain and Portugal , reaffirms its resolve to extend and strengthen its economic , commercial and cooperation relations with those countries ,

- is determined to step up its activities to exploit all possible ways of achieving this goal , thus contributing , in particular , to the economic and social development of the Latin-American region , and to efforts aimed at the regional integration thereof ,

- will endeavour , more specifically , to give concrete form to ways of strengthening the present links , of developing , extending and diversifying trade as far as possible and of implementing cooperation in the various fields of mutual interest on as wide a basis as possible , using the appropriate instruments and framework to increase the efficiency of the various forms of cooperation ,

- is prepared in this context , in order to promote trade flows , to examine any problems which might arise in the field of trade with a view to finding appropriate solutions , taking into account , in particular , the scope of the generalized system of tariff preferences and the application of the economic cooperation agreements concluded or to be concluded with certain Latin-American countries or groups of countries .