(E-146/01)
July 9, 2001

THE OAS OPENS INTERNET PAGE TO RECEIVE VIEWS ON
THE INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER

            The Organization of American States (OAS) today opened an Internet page to receive suggestions and comments on the text of the future Inter-American Democratic Charter.  The page is intended to encourage participation by nongovernmental organizations, research institutes, universities, and other sectors of civil society in the preparation of the new Charter.

            During the Third Summit of the Americas, held this past April in Quebec, Canada, the presidents and heads of state decided to prepare an Inter-American Democratic Charter, in the OAS framework, to strengthen the countries’ ability to respond to disruptions of the democratic order.  The proposed Democratic Charter, now under discussion, was presented to the OAS General Assembly, which met in San José, Costa Rica, from June 3 to 5.

            The new Internet page (http://www.oas.org/charter/eng/charter_en.htm) will be open to receive suggestions and views from civil society from July 9 to August 10, 2001.  It will also be possible to submit views on the future Democratic Charter to the official OAS Web page (http://www.oas.org).

            The definitive text of the Inter-American Democratic Charter will be approved by the representatives of the 34 OAS member states at the special session of the General Assembly that will be held in Lima, Peru, on September 10.

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