Press Releases NEW AMBASSADORS PRESENT CREDENTIALS AT OAS
January 21, 1998
New ambassadors for Dominica, Guatemala and Portugal on Wednesday presented Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General César Gaviria with credentials, and later took part in the Permanent Council's first regular meeting for the year.
Ambassador Edward A. Alexander, filling the post of permanent representative for the Commonwealth of Dominica, will retain his present role as advisor to his country's prime minister, Edison James and, as non-resident permanent representative, will be based in Roseau, the Dominica capital.
Ambassador Alexander said his country would continue supporting the organization's efforts to fight corruption and drug trafficking, eradicate poverty and prevent the region's financial systems from being infiltrated by drug money.
Guatemala, meanwhile, will be represented at the hemispheric organization by Ambassador Alfonso Quiñónez Lemus who, in presenting his credentials, said he was pleased to be taking up his new functions at a time when the organization was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary.
A minister-counselor at the Guatemalan Embassy in Washington for the last five years, the Central American diplomat expressed appreciation for the OAS support to his country's peace process. He said his government's main concern right now was to implement those agreements.
Portugal's new observer, Ambassador António Augusto Jorge Mendes, stated that his government was seeking stronger relations with the countries of the hemisphere. He added that Portugal appreciated the role the OAS had been playing as a political and diplomatic forum in search of solutions.
Portugal has had permanent observer status at the OAS since 1975.