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E-119-00
OAS TO LEAD HIGH-LEVEL MISSION TO PERU OAS
Secretary-General C�sar Gaviria today announced that, at the request
of OAS foreign ministers and the invitation of the Government of Peru,
he and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will jointly
lead a high-level mission to Lima from June 27 to 30, to explore ways
to strengthen democracy in that country. Mr. Axworthy will be
participating in the mission in his capacity as Chair of the OAS
General Assembly. The
mission and its mandate were approved unanimously by OAS members in a
resolution passed at the General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario, on June
5 in the wake of allegations of electoral irregularities in Peru�s
May 28 elections. �I
find it truly encouraging that all OAS members took direct action to
promote democratic development in Peru,� said Mr. Gaviria. �This
is an important show of collective support for good governance in the
region.� �The
General Assembly in Windsor was a major step by the OAS in taking
responsibility to support the evolution and development of democracy
in Peru,� said Mr. Axworthy. �Foreign ministers in the region
agreed that it is our task, working collectively through the OAS, to
take ownership of the democracy agenda in this hemisphere.� Mission participants will meet with the Government of Peru and other sectors of the political community to develop options and recommendations aimed at strengthening democracy in Peru. In particular, they will look at measures to reform the electoral process, including reform of the judicial and constitutional tribunals, as well as strengthening freedom of the press. For
further information, media representatives may contact: Eduardo
del Buey
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