Treaty Establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market - CARICOM CHAPTER III COORDINATION AND FUNCTIONAL COOPERATION ARTICLE 17 COORDINATION OF FOREIGN POLICES 1. To the end that Member States aim at the fullest possible coordination of their foreign policies within their respective competences and seek to adopt as far as possible common positions in major international issues, there is hereby established a Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs. 2. The Committee shall have the power to make recommendations to the Governments of Member States represented on the Committee. 3. Only member States possessing the necessary competence with respect to the matters under consideration from time to time may take part in the deliberations of the Committee. 4. Where after the coming into force of the Treaty Member State achieves full sovereign status such State shall elect whether it wishes to be bound by the provisions of this Article. 5. The recommendations of the Committee shall be made by an affirmative vote of all the Member States competent and participating in the deliberations. 6. The provisions of Article 13 shall not apply to this Article. ARTICLE 18 FUNCTIONAL COOPERATION Without prejudice to the requirements of any other provision of this Treaty, Member States, in furtherance of the objectives set out in Article 4 of this Treaty, undertake to make every effect to cooperate in the areas set out in the Schedule to this Treaty. ARTICLE 19 SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Treaty, unless otherwise provided for and particularly in Articles 11 and 12 of the Annex, shall be determined by the Conference. Continue on to Chapter IV