Organization of American States
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(E-063-02)        

March 26, 2002

BARBADOS SIGNS AGREEMENT TO HOST OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JUNE

The Barbados government signed an agreement with the Organization of American States in Washington today for the next OAS General Assembly session to be held in that Caribbean country in early June. 

Ambassador Michael King signed for his government, with Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi signing on behalf of the OAS.   The envoy recalled that when Barbados first announced—back in 1998—its intention to host the OAS meeting in 2002, it was done in the spirit of its commitment to the premier hemispheric body. 

"Realistically, the Organization of American States has played a very important role, as an institution, in making sure what we do in this body has an impact on the lives of our citizens,"  King said.   Noting that all states of this Hemisphere, large and small, are under severe threat from terrorism and other forces that threaten national security, he said Barbados and several other Caribbean governments, supported by nearly all the OAS member states, have recognized that  "the multidimensional threats of security represent the kind of issues that we need to debate in the General Assembly." 

 For his part, the Assistant Secretary General, describing the agreement worked out with the Barbados government as "very positive," said it was fitting that this year's General Assembly session will be held in the Caribbean country, which has had the longest history of parliamentary democracy in the Western Hemisphere, as the OAS seeks to help advance democratic practices and the rule of law in the member countries.  

The upcoming session will be the fifth time a Caribbean nation has hosted a meeting of the highest decision-making forum of the OAS. The General Assembly was held in Grenada in 1977, in Saint Lucia in 1981, in The Bahamas in 1992 and in Haiti in 1995.

 

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