Rohee urges Amazon States to get involved in Iwokrama forest project Stabroek News April 15, 2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs, Clement Rohee, has put out a call for the involvement of member states of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty in Guyana's Iwokrama Rainforest project. Rohee made the appeal while addressing the 6th meeting of foreign affairs ministers of signatory countries to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty in Caracas, Venezuela last week. He said that a tangible demonstration of Guyana's commitment to environmental protection was the donation of the Iwokrama Rainforest Centre to the international community for study and experimentation on systems of sustainable management of tropical forests. Also at the meeting were foreign affairs ministers and senior officials from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname and host country, Venezuela, said a press release on Wednesday from the Guyana Embassy in Caracas. Included in this country's delegation were Ambassador to Caracas, Bayney Karran, counsellor, Jennifer Tiwari and executive officer, Anna-Lou Edmonds of Guyana's Caracas Mission. Minister Rohee urged member states to ensure that future generations were afforded the benefits of the vast resources of the Amazon Region. The meeting, declared open by Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jose Vicente Rangel, adopted the Declaration of Caracas and several resolutions pertaining to the functioning of the Pro Tempore secretariat of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty which is soon to become a permanent secretariat with headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil. Guyana, the release noted, caused to be included in the Preamble of the Declaration, a call for institutional strengthening of joint and coordinated action on issues related to the Amazon Region. This country's position that member countries highlight the importance of the eco-tourism potential of the Amazon Region was also taken into consideration in the Declaration. In subscribing to the Declaration of Caracas, the eight member states of the treaty reaffirmed their commitment to the sustainable development of the Amazon Region, the release said. They also committed themselves to pursuing more efficient regional cooperation and accelerating the establishment of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO). Guyana is soon to ratify the Protocol of Amendment to establish the new organisation, the release stated. The meeting was declared closed by Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez and president of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso.