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a small nation, the primary thrust of Barbados' diplomatic
activity has been within international organizations. The
island is a member of the Commonwealth and participates
in its activities. Barbados was admitted to the United Nations
in December 1966. Barbados joined the Organization of American
States (OAS) in 1967.
On July 4, 1973, Barbados, Trinidad
and Tobago,
Guyana, and Jamaica
signed a treaty in Trinidad to found the Caribbean Community
and Common Market (CARICOM). In May 1974, most of the remaining
English-speaking Caribbean states joined CARICOM, which
now has 14 members. Barbados is also a member of the Caribbean
Development Bank, established in 1970, with headquarters
in Bridgetown. The eastern Caribbean's Regional Security
System, which associates Barbados with six other island
nations, is also headquartered in Barbados. In July 1994,
Barbados joined the newly established Association of Caribbean
States (ACS).
As a member of CARICOM, Barbados supported efforts by the
United States to implement UN Security Council Resolution
940, designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de
facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute
personnel to the multinational force, which restored the
democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994.
In May 1997, Prime Minister Owen Arthur hosted President
Clinton and 14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever
U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit
strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice
and counternarcotics issues, finance and development, and
trade.
Barbados has diplomatic missions headed by resident ambassadors
or high commissioners in Canada, the U.K., the U.S., and
Venezuela, and at the European Union (Brussels) and the
UN. It also has resident consuls general in Toronto, Miami,
and New York City. Australia,
Brazil, Cuba,
Canada, Colombia, China, Guatemala, the U.K., the U.S.,
and Venezuela
have ambassadors or high commissioners resident in Barbados.
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