text 1990 monographic Points out that the Region's experience of a clear social and economic setback in the last decade should be used as a stepping stone to solutions to the problem of development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Asserts that strengthened regional cooperation is a way to reinforce the area's economies through mutual complementation and the search for common economic and social interests, and that petroleum activities offer excellent opportunities for cooperation - to the economic benefit of the parties involved. DC 3/7/00 M2LMGR